The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on May 31, 2015 17:50:43 GMT
My school year is complete, so I'm hoping to get quite a bit of reading in the next few weeks. I hope you had a good reading week. I read two books this week. I read, Eighth Grave After Dark, the latest installment in the Charlie Davidson series. I know many of us have read this series on this board, so I won't say much about it, but I always find these books enjoyable. This one was no different; however, it did tie up some loose ends, but also created a bunch of new questions, and I'm not sure of the new direction of the series. That's all I'm going say about it. 4/5 stars. For now. The second book I read, was The Luckiest Girl Alive. This book has been billed as the next Gone Girl or Girl on a Train. It is similar in the fact that it has an unreliable narrator and there is a mystery that is slowly revealed to the reader. I did give this five out of five stars. It isn't that it's an award-winning book, but it was an enjoyable read. One of those perfect books to start out the summer. I will warn you, the protagonist is often times very unlikable. If you do not like unlikable characters, you will have an issue with the beginning of the book. Keep reading. It does get better, and she is not what she seems. At least some of the time. There is foreshadowing the hints at the twists, and I'm someone who often figures out twists, but I didn't have it all figured out. I was surprised or at least somewhat surprised, and I enjoyed it. There are some serious issues in this book and some triggers for some people so beware. So, what did you read this week? What are some can't miss books for the summer? Some Summer Read ideasAttachments:
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Post by RobbyKay on May 31, 2015 18:49:43 GMT
Hi Peas Who Read!
I just finished Francisco X. Stork's Marcelo in the Real World. It's a story told from the perspective of a young man with Asperger's. He lives a happy life full of order and rules, but his father wants him to have more real world experience. It was very good. It's a YA title, and I would definitely recommend it.
Sticking with the Spectrum theme, I read The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes. It's a nonfiction work, about a family whose oldest son struggles with autism, then becomes psychotic. It really focuses on the struggles of finding adequate mental health care for the most vulnerable. I enjoyed it.
On a whim, I picked up Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson. It's a magical story set in an unnamed Middle Eastern nation, and it blends political intrigue with magical realism My description doesn't do it justice. In the end, I loved it, but I didn't know it until I finished the book.
My book club chose Losing Mum & Pup by Christopher Buckley. It's the story of his mourning the loss of his well-known parents, (Pat & William F Buckley). I thought it was a lovely testament to his relationship with his father.
Earlier this week, I went to a fund-raiser featuring Cheryl Strayed (Wild). So now I'm reading her fiction work, Torch. I'm just a few chapters in, but I am enjoying her writing.
Happy reading!
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Post by SockMonkey on May 31, 2015 18:53:56 GMT
I'm listening to Authority by Jeff Vandermeer, the 2nd in the Southern Reach trilogy. I liked the first enough to keep going, and I am actually liking this one a little better.
I have one story left in Kelly Link's Get in Trouble collection, which is phenomenal. If you like sci-fi and/or short stories, this collection is a must-read.
I have a few non-fiction on deck to read next (Roxane Gay's Bad Feminist and Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed), but I am looking for some more good fiction, too.
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on May 31, 2015 19:24:05 GMT
Last week, I read a book on Auschwitz-Birkenau. Five Chimneys something. It was from a survivor's viewpoint and experiences. Another detainee told her that it was there job to remember everything so they could relay the happenings in the camp. So, that was her goal if she made it out. It was a good read.
I don't even know what the name of the book I am reading now is called. I started it late at night, after finishing up the Holocaust book. Didn't want that to be the last thing I absorbed before falling asleep.
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
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Post by janeliz on May 31, 2015 19:27:10 GMT
I read Karen White's The Sound of Glass and loved it. She gets some attention at this time of the year because her books fall under the "Southern beach/pool read" genre, but I think she's a lot more than that. She's really a terrific storyteller, and I think her books would appeal to more than just women who are looking for a good pool or beach book.
I've just started a Lisa Genova's Inside the O'Briens.
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
Location: North Dakota
Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on May 31, 2015 19:41:00 GMT
I read mostly fluffy books. I'm in the middle of Emily Griffin's The One & Only. I'm enjoying it. janeliz, The Sound of Glass looks good, I just downloaded it  Thanks! |
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Post by betsy on May 31, 2015 19:50:37 GMT
Just finished The Spectacular Now. Enjoyed it thoroughly. Rereading Insurgent, but it's not nearly as interesting the second time around.
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Post by GamGam on May 31, 2015 21:22:17 GMT
I read Take me with You by Catherine Hyde. This is not a book that really grabbed me. I liked the general tone of the novel, and the relationships formed by the 3 main characters, but in order to get to the ending the author wanted, the story was completely truncated, and I skimmed a bit of the last 3rd of the book. I probably would not reccomend this one.
Next us is Doc by Mary Russell which was mentioned here last week.
think I'll check out The Sound of Glass.
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Post by sues on May 31, 2015 22:02:03 GMT
I finished The Grove by John Rector- and I was not happy. I didn't like the main character, but I felt like maybe he was progressing as the story went forward. I won't say more- but I will say the ending made me say "WTH?" out loud, and very sorry I read the book. I hate when that happens.
Synpopsis:Dexter McCray is a farmer with a dark past that continues to haunt him. As a struggling alcoholic, he’s used to being looked at with pity and suspicion in his community. After waking from a blackout to discover the body of a teenage girl in the nearby cottonwood grove, he can't be entirely sure he's innocent. With no memory of the previous night, he sees no choice but to investigate the crime himself. Fortunately he’s not alone. He has some help . . . in the shape of the dead girl herself. Is Dexter motivated by guilt or insanity, reason or folly? And how will the young victim provide the help he desperately needs? With plot twists on every page, Rector breathes life into a story that pits reality against hallucination, truth against improbability. The Grove is a sinister tale of one man haunted by the reality of his failed life.
Now I'm reading The Girl Who Would Speak for the Dead by Paul Elwork. I'm not far enough in to know if I like it yet, but it sounds intriguing.
Synopsis: Loosely based on true events from the early 20th century, Elwork's first novel poignantly depicts the desperate need of people to believe in life after death. In 1925, at her family's suburban Philadelphia estate, 13-year-old Emily Stewart discovers she can make a loud rapping noise with her ankle. With her sly twin brother, Michael, Emily entertains gullible schoolmates with "knockings" that spirits purportedly make to answer questions about the afterlife. When adults who have suffered the loss of loved ones start consulting her as a spirit medium, her efforts to give them consolation begin to seem increasingly like cruel deceptions. Interweaving Emily's experiences with those of several generations of family and friends devastated by tragic loss, Elwork paints an unforgettable portrait of individuals traumatized by death and unhinged by grief. The subtle and moving portrayal of people in the grip of powerful emotions that overwhelm rational thinking will haunt readers long after they put the book down.
Also finishing Bring Up the Bodies - book two in the Wolf Hall series. I'm enjoying it, but not as much as the first one.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on May 31, 2015 22:57:10 GMT
I read Not My Father's Son by Alan Cumming. It's about the abuse he suffered from his father and how that plays out years later when he goes on a UK ancestry-type of show. I enjoyed the book, but I think it was a little padded. Would have been a good magazine article. I like Alan Cumming, so that was what kept me interested in the book.
I tried to read a Linwood Barclay thriller that was recommended earlier this week (No Time for Good-bye) but I lost interest halfway through and leafed to the end to find out the solution. I have been in such a slump!
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on May 31, 2015 23:01:33 GMT
I'm reading outside my normal genres this week and enjoying something new.
I completed The Magician King and now I'm into The Magician's Land. These are fantasy/magical books and are like Harry Potter for adults. I enjoy them because they are a nice balance of light reading and complex themes and characters.
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on May 31, 2015 23:05:02 GMT
Next us is Doc by Mary Russell which was mentioned here last week. She is one of my favorite authors! All her books are different, but they are all excellent. If you enjoy Doc, I'd also recommend two others by Russell: A Thread of Grace and The Sparrow. |
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Deleted
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May 19, 2024 5:56:15 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 23:58:43 GMT
This week, I read Amazon Mom, "One Woman's Journey from Mom to Successful Online Entrepreneur." I love learning new ways to make money working from home. She did a great job and was very open about explaining her work step by step, what worked for what, what didn't, what she plans to try to better her business. I've read books on this topic before but hers was the most personal and gratifying. I started It Was Me All Along but I'm not getting into it yet. It's a memoir and is mostly about her childhood, food, relationship with her parents so far. Not super compelling, things I haven't read a million times before. Don't know if I'll stick with it. I also started Dead Girls Don't Blog. "What would you do if the man who murdered your friend were eligible for parole?" I bought it to support a local author and it's pretty good, grabbed me right away. |
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Post by littlefish on Jun 1, 2015 0:09:32 GMT
I finished Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World by Bob Goff. It was fantastic. Every chapter kind of an individual story/lesson wrapped up in it, all with the underlying message that love isn't a word, but a verb. It was like having a conversation with a fascinating friend. I'd open it up and think "Let's see what Bob has to say today." You can't go wrong with a guy who sees Tom Sawyer's Island at Disneyland as his office.
I started reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath. It definitely has a more corporate twist to it, but I can see implementing parts of the main ideas into the education field as well. Interesting.
I'm also starting Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller, because he is my main man when it comes to authors this year.
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Post by sugarmama on Jun 1, 2015 0:10:16 GMT
I just started Radical Integrity: The Story of Dietrich Bonheoffer. It's a biography of a Christian German who attempted to have Hitler assassinated. I'm not very far into it, but it's fascinating learning about his background and the things he noticed changing as Hitler became more powerful.
I also just finished What Alice Forgot. Another good one by Lianne Moriarty. I really enjoyed it and it was a quick read.
tuesdaysgone, thank you for mentioning the other books by Mary Doria Russell. I loved Doc and have Epitaph on the list to read. Thanks to you, I just added A Thread of Grace.
msknit, I also added Five Chimneys. I will be visiting Berlin in a few weeks and that sounds like a good one to read before touring Auschwitz.
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Post by annabella on Jun 1, 2015 0:13:26 GMT
I was thinking about reading The Luckiest Girl Alive but wondered if I would like a story in a high school setting? I don't like young adult reads or chick lit. I did love Gone Girl and Girl on the Train.
I just started The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.
by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, Amanda Pressner
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Post by smokeynspike on Jun 1, 2015 1:01:51 GMT
I finished The Dairy Queen by Allison Rushby. I said in last week's post that it was British, but upon further reading, I discovered she is an Australian author. I thought it was pretty good. There were a couple small plot issues, but overall I enjoyed it for women's fiction and gave it 4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads.
I started some complete trash,  Mommywood by Tori Spelling today. I read her first book a long time ago, liked it, and ended up with this on my TBR shelf at home.
Melissa |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Jun 1, 2015 1:12:48 GMT
I was thinking about reading The Luckiest Girl Alive but wondered if I would like a story in a high school setting? I don't like young adult reads or chick lit. I did love Gone Girl and Girl on the Train. I just started The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.
by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, Amanda PressnerIt's hard to say if you'll like it like I did, but it's not young adult. Half of the book or more takes place as a 28 year old. The events from her 14 year old life are part of what makes her the woman she is now. Definitely adult language, situations and characterization. |
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Post by powderhorngreen on Jun 1, 2015 1:23:05 GMT
You by Caroline Kepner - This has been reviewed here before, so I will keep it short. It is the story of a stalker/killer. While not great, it certainly held my interest. I enjoyed the internal dialogue of Joe,the primary character (the stalker), has with himself. It was also interesting to here how he justified his behavior and decisions to himself. However, parts were far-fetched and you never really feel sorry for any of the victims. It certainly gives you pause as he uses the internet, cell phones, and social media to track people and manipulate situations.
Normal by Graeme Cameron - This is the story of a serial killer (I guess I had a theme this week). However, it is very different from You. This book is full of dark humor and works to make you root for the killer and make you sympathetic towards him. In my case, the writer succeeded. I will not give too much away for those who may choose to read it. Early in the novel, he takes a girl that was not his target. He becomes entangled with her and she turns out to be just a crazy, or even crazier, than the serial killer. It is interesting that the author chose to never give the killer a name and the book is told in the first person. A fun ride with some very sick humor, even with unlikely plot twists and wholly unrealistic events.
The Wright Brothers by David McCollough - another great nonfiction historical story. I learned much and thought this was a worthwhile and satisfying read. Who knew that the Wright's sister was so instrumental in their success? Who knew that the French were the first leaders in airplane production? Who knew that the Wright brothers had invested such a small sum to realize such a huge dream? Fun, fun, fun reading.
Cutting Lisa by Percival Everett - A very short novel about a retiring obstetrician who visits his distant son and his family on the West Coast. Before leaving, he confronts a man who performed a C-section at home on his own wife. During his visit out West, he has to re-examine his distaste at the father for taking matters into his own hands rather than seek medical intervention. The novel ends abruptly with the obstetrician performing a medical act at home on a family member. Very thought provoking. The writing style takes some getting use to as it is very stark. There also seemed to be several dead end vignettes within the story.
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Post by soggycheerio on Jun 1, 2015 1:24:37 GMT
Yay! I finally am reading a half-way decent book I can post about. It is called Lessons I Learned From Nick Nack by Padgett Gerler. So far it has really held my interest. My link takes you to the Amazon site to read the synopsis. |
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2015 3:48:19 GMT
I started last week with a little gem I discovered browsing the digital library. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald. It’s essentially a children’s book but I always love books about art and art history so I figured I’d give it a listen. It’s about a girl called Theo, whose grandfather has just died and whose mother is mentally ill. By accident she discovers what could be a valuable old painting and then sets out to solve the mystery behind it, find it’s owner and see if it’s worth anything. It briefly but succinctly covers such topics as Great masters, art forgery, Nazi’s stealing art etc.
It’s a great little book and even as an adult I enjoyed it a lot. 4 out of 5 stars from me.
Nest was The Bees by Laline Paull. This is literally a book about bees and their lives and mainly one worker bee Flora 717 who aspires to motherhood. It’s partially based on the factual lives of bees but with a good dose of anthropomorphism added. Unusual, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. Another 4 star listen.
Then I decided I may as well stick with the ‘bee’ theme and read my other books with bee in the title. So next was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Set in the South in the 1960s about a 14yo white girl who runs away with her black housekeeper after they get into some trouble. They end up staying with 3 sisters who keep bees and sell honey and who have a connection to her deceased mother. A character driven story rather than action based, about friendship, racism and forgiveness. Another 4 stars.
Then I left the most challenging for last - Little Bee by Chris Cleave. This tells the dual story of a young Nigerian refugee known as Little Bee who met a British couple while they were on holiday in Nigeria, where horrible happened. Llittle Bee manages to escape to England and after spending 2 years in a detention centre, she goes to see Sarah and her husband as they are the only people she knows. Gradually we find out what has happened to all 3 of them after their meeting on the beach. Some of it is funny and light hearted, but much of it is about the horrors in countries like Nigeria and then conditions in detention centres and the effect it has on refugees. Definitely not an easy read and I think one that will stay with me for a while. Just finished this a few hours ago...another 4 stars.
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2015 3:49:20 GMT
Sounds like a book I would enjoy - thanks, added that to my Audible wish list.
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Jun 1, 2015 4:39:30 GMT
The second book I read, was The Luckiest Girl Alive. This book has been billed as the next Gone Girl or Girl on a Train. It is similar in the fact that it has an unreliable narrator and there is a mystery that is slowly revealed to the reader. I did give this five out of five stars. It isn't that it's an award-winning book, but it was an enjoyable read. One of those perfect books to start out the summer. I will warn you, the protagonist is often times very unlikable. If you do not like unlikable characters, you will have an issue with the beginning of the book. Keep reading. It does get better, and she is not what she seems. At least some of the time. There is foreshadowing the hints at the twists, and I'm someone who often figures out twists, but I didn't have it all figured out. I was surprised or at least somewhat surprised, and I enjoyed it. There are some serious issues in this book and some triggers for some people so beware. Thanks for suggesting this. It sounds like it will be a great read. I'm on the waiting list for an e-copy of it from my library. This week I finished The Stuff That Never Happened. It's a novel about a woman who after nearly 30 years of marriage wonders "what if" her life turned out differently? |
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jun 1, 2015 4:48:00 GMT
On styxgirl 's recommendation last week I took a break from A Game of Thrones and downloaded and read Catching Fireflies by AC Williams. It was cute. It's about a 32yo church secretary who, while in jail for an outstanding a fix-it ticket, befriends a prostitute (really a victim of human trafficking), and with a klutzy comedy of errors tries to help her new friend escape her fate. Of course there is a cute guy thrown in there too. If you have an extra $2.99 lying around, it's a good feel good read. On audio I listened to A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. I'm sorry if you liked this book, but I was so bored with it. For the life of me, I can't figure it out. It's the day to day life of three generations of the Whitshank family. And "by the by" (to me) it was a book about nothing. Now I have to hang tough and finish A Game of Thrones because my library loan expires this week and I'm just barely halfway done. |
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on Jun 1, 2015 14:57:11 GMT
I finished The Back Road by Rachel Abbott. This is the 3rd book of hers I have read, and my favorite. 4.5/5 stars. It is a slower moving thriller, with lots of character development. When I was reading the reviews, the lower reviews all said it was too slow, so if you like a fast-paced thriller, it might seem to drag. It reminded me of an Agatha Christie book. Rachel Abbott is one of the top selling ebook authors on Amazon right now. Her first book was self-published, but she now has a publishing company.
Here is the synopsis: In a quiet country village, secrets abound.
When a young girl, Abbie Campbell, is knocked over and left for dead on the back road of the village of Little Melham, waves of shock ripple through the small community and a chain of events, which threatens to expose long-kept secrets, is triggered.
For Ellie Saunders, the truth about that night puts both her marriage and the safety of her children in jeopardy–she has to protect her family, no matter what the cost. And Ellie isn’t the only one with something to hide. She and her sister Leo believe they have put their troubled childhood behind them, but Leo’s quest for the truth reveals a terrible secret that has lain hidden for years.
Ellie’s neighbour, former detective Tom Douglas, has escaped to Little Melham in search of a quiet life, but finds himself drawn into the web of deceit as his every instinct tells him that what happened to young Abbie was far more than a tragic accident.
In this gripping novel, the peaceful English countryside belies the horrible truths that lurk beneath the trimmed hedgerows, behind the closed doors of smart sitting rooms and within unspoken conversations
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Post by lynnek on Jun 1, 2015 16:49:39 GMT
I read Karen White's The Sound of Glass and loved it. She gets some attention at this time of the year because her books fall under the "Southern beach/pool read" genre, but I think she's a lot more than that. She's really a terrific storyteller, and I think her books would appeal to more than just women who are looking for a good pool or beach book. I've just started a Lisa Genova's Inside the O'Briens. We are on the same reading track! Those were my last two reads! I enjoyed them both quite a lot! |
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purplebee
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,734
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Post by purplebee on Jun 1, 2015 16:50:22 GMT
On styxgirl 's recommendation last week I took a break from A Game of Thrones and downloaded and read Catching Fireflies by AC Williams. It was cute. It's about a 32yo church secretary who, while in jail for an outstanding a fix-it ticket, befriends a prostitute (really a victim of human trafficking), and with a klutzy comedy of errors tries to help her new friend escape her fate. Of course there is a cute guy thrown in there too. If you have an extra $2.99 lying around, it's a good feel good read. On audio I listened to A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler. I'm sorry if you liked this book, but I was so bored with it. For the life of me, I can't figure it out. It's the day to day life of three generations of the Whitshank family. And "by the by" (to me) it was a book about nothing. Now I have to hang tough and finish A Game of Thrones because my library loan expires this week and I'm just barely halfway done. I read about a third of Spool and thought meh.. Nothing happened so I quit reading it. I'm reading John Grisham's Blue Mountain about corruption in the coal mining areas of Appalachia. Typical Grisham legal stuff, but holding my attention. A bit different from the fluffy chick lit I've been reading lately. |
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
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Post by janeliz on Jun 1, 2015 22:01:07 GMT
I read Karen White's The Sound of Glass and loved it. She gets some attention at this time of the year because her books fall under the "Southern beach/pool read" genre, but I think she's a lot more than that. She's really a terrific storyteller, and I think her books would appeal to more than just women who are looking for a good pool or beach book. I've just started a Lisa Genova's Inside the O'Briens. We are on the same reading track! Those were my last two reads! I enjoyed them both quite a lot! Cool! I finished Inside the O'Briens this afternoon and WOW. I absolutely loved it. I was emotionally spent when I finished. |
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by gottapeanow on Jun 1, 2015 22:56:11 GMT
I moved down the street from my old place last week and didn't read much.
I read a Christian book called The Veil by Blake Healy. I loved it! I recently heard him speak, but the book was much better. 5/5 stars.
I might have read something else, but I will look and post later.
Lisa
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May 19, 2024 5:56:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 23:10:32 GMT
@the Great Carpezio, For summer reads, I am so very excited for Harper Lee's book Go Set a Watchman. I plan on reading To Kill a Mockingbird about mid June. I'm hoping to read more in general. RobbyKay, thanks for the recommendation of Marcelo in the Real World and The Boy Who Loved Tornadoes. My daughter has Aspergers and really enjoyed Mockingbird. I am almost finished with Outlander. I've decided it's not the series for me. No man is worth staying back in time for while living in primitive conditions (chamber pot...eww)! I would have preferred more adventure and and less stupid romance. |
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Thanks!
Mommywood by Tori Spelling today. I read her first book a long time ago, liked it, and ended up with this on my TBR shelf at home.
