The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Nov 8, 2015 22:55:17 GMT
The sun is already going down in Minnesota, so you would think I would have more time to read this time of year but unfortunately that is not the case. Last week I started the thread and ran. I am a little sad that I haven't had that much to share on the reading front lately.
As many of you know, I am a teacher. I am teaching three different classes, 154 students and one of my classes is a new prep (theatre arts....AHHHHH!). I am a mom of twin seven year olds who are involved in hockey and karate, AND, my mom had surgery on her back in early Sept. She has had many complications---starting with being in a rehab facility for six weeks. She has been home for a couple of weeks now, but it has been really rocky (will likely need another surgery), and I have been spending 2 to 3 hours a day with her or doing something for my parents (like running errands....my dad is on oxygen) in the evening. I've always been a night owl, so I could get my reading time in most days, but right now, the rest of my night is taking care of my kids/cooking/errands and grading/planning/bare essential cleaning of home---instead of my hour or two a night of reading and 30-60 minutes of exercise (both of which I need for my sanity and health). I've become a TV watcher again (while with my mom). I am missing my books.
I just wanted to share because I feel like I am neglecting this thread a bit. I do think things will get better soon. Even this week, it started to get better a little. I have some hope.
In the last week, I did read two things.
I just finished Thirteen Chairs. I downloaded this for Halloween week, but I didn't have a moment to read more than about twenty pages that week. This is a YA book that is comprised of 13 different stories that are all part of one big story. The stories were good. They were all different and creepy and VERY clean. There is some blood, but nothing too crazy and no sex or profanity. I could recommend this to "good" younger readers who like scary stories. Ten and up? I didn't think there was much of a twist, and the overarching story could use some beefing up IMO, but I think a lot of tweens/teens would like it and I will recommend to students for sure. 4/5 stars.
I also read the Gillian Flynn novella/short story, Grown Ups. I was looking for something quick to read and high interest. It is the opposite of the last book....in that it is full of profanity and sex talk LOL. It was quick and clever and if you like her work and don't mind spending 2.99 for a short story, give it a try. I liked it...didn't love it. 4/5
What did you read this week?
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Post by maryland on Nov 8, 2015 23:11:21 GMT
The book The Good Girl was recommended on 2peas and it was really good! I was a bit confused though, so if anyone has read it, I may have to ask. Don't want any spoilers for everyone.
Sounds like you have been very busy! I hope your mom improves. My husband had back surgery and it was hard on him both physically and emotionally.
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Post by annabella on Nov 8, 2015 23:15:59 GMT
The book The Good Girl was recommended on 2peas and it was really good! I was a bit confused though, so if anyone has read it, I may have to ask. Don't want any spoilers for everyone. I read it, what's your question? I'm finishing up Wildflower by Drew Barrymore. I got a few new books from the library on my kindle so just have to decide what to read next. |
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 8, 2015 23:53:41 GMT
I read Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin. The author was Johnny's attorney, friend, and business partner - until he wasn't. I do believe that what was written is mostly true. Interesting story, but I have to think that the author, after all these years, is still trying to get back at Johnny for what he did to him. I'm glad that I only paid $1.99 for it.
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Post by annabella on Nov 8, 2015 23:54:40 GMT
I read Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin. The author was Johnny's attorney, friend, and business partner - until he wasn't. I do believe that what was written is mostly true. Interesting story, but I have to think that the author, after all these years, is still trying to get back at Johnny for what he did to him. I'm glad that I only paid $1.99 for it. So tell us what happened? |
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Nov 8, 2015 23:55:18 GMT
I'm finally making time for reading again. I read two interesting but different books this week.
The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving (Evison) is a about a man who has recently experienced several losses in his life. He becomes a caregiver for a disabled teenager and the two form a bond. They end up taking a road trip together and along the way pick up a strange and tattered group of companions. It's predictable in some ways, but still compelling because the characters are flawed but well developed.
The Transcriptionist (Rowland) is a about a lonely woman who acts as the last transcriptionist for a large NYC newspaper. She lives a sad and lonely existence until one day she reads about a women who committed suicide and realizes that she had a chance encounter with the same woman on a city bus. She becomes obsessed with finding more about this woman's life. She inadvertently uncovers some information that can damage her employer. There is a sub plot that I saw coming a mile away, but overall I enjoyed the book. Strange and lonely characters that are well fleshed out. Beautifully written.
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Mystie on Nov 8, 2015 23:57:53 GMT
I am still reading my way through the Agatha Christies at my library! There are SO MANY of them!  I'm enjoying myself. |
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Nov 9, 2015 0:05:38 GMT
I read Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin. The author was Johnny's attorney, friend, and business partner - until he wasn't. I do believe that what was written is mostly true. Interesting story, but I have to think that the author, after all these years, is still trying to get back at Johnny for what he did to him. I'm glad that I only paid $1.99 for it. So tell us what happened? Nothing that wasn't already hinted at in news reports in the 70's, 80's and 90's - drinking, womanzing, infidelity, backstabbing, questionable business dealings, etc. Oh, and of course it was all his mothers fault.  |
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Post by maryland on Nov 9, 2015 0:14:52 GMT
The book The Good Girl was recommended on 2peas and it was really good! I was a bit confused though, so if anyone has read it, I may have to ask. Don't want any spoilers for everyone. I read it, what's your question? I'm finishing up Wildflower by Drew Barrymore. I got a few new books from the library on my kindle so just have to decide what to read next. Thanks Anabella! I sent you a message with my question. |
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finaledition
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by finaledition on Nov 9, 2015 0:24:28 GMT
I read a book that will likely be the best book I've read all year. There was an article written about it and it was shared on a parenting FB page for my son's college.
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims. There were so many take aways from this book that as the mom of a college student, high schooler and 2nd grader, I found it relevant to all stages of parenting. I don't classify myself as a helicopter parent, but know that I fall on the spectrum so this was a good reminder to reevaluate things that I can be doing different or better. She will be speaking in my area in January and I will be attending for sure. I can't recommend this book highly enough.
I also read I'll Give You the Sun. It's a YA book, but done at a very mature, insightful level. 4/5
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gottapeanow
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Post by gottapeanow on Nov 9, 2015 0:33:04 GMT
I also read and loved The Good Girl.
Carey Ayn, as a former teacher and a parent, I was frazzled every night. Sometimes I miss teaching. But I don't miss feeling so completely drained. When you add in parents with extra needs, well, that would have put me over the edge. I hope things continue to improve for you.
I am nearly done with The Strangler by William Landay. He wrote Defending Jacob, which I loved! So far, this book isn't doing much for me. It's okay, just meh. I guess I'll see what happens at the end. No ratings until I am actually done!
Looking forward to reading Room, which is up next.
Lisa
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QueenoftheSloths
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Nov 9, 2015 2:18:44 GMT
I am doing a long, slow reread of the Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series' by Cassandra Clare. Coming up in January there will be a tv series based on them, so I wanted to refresh my memory before then.
I was also SUPER excited to finally acquire a copy of Songs for Alex the final book in the Alex series by Tessa Duder. While I wouldn't say I was totally thrilled with how the series wrapped up, I am very happy to finally know after having read the first book in high school in the early 90s!
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Nov 9, 2015 2:24:09 GMT
I read:
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra. 5/5. Loved it, not as much as A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, but still loved it.
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. 4/5. Love Geraldine Brooks, which is why I picked up this book (not subject matter I would normally select). Slow going at first for me, but then engrossing as I got in to it.
Make Me by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #20). 4/5. Still formulaic and repetitive, but one of the better entries in the series.
Right now I'm about a third through City on Fire. So far, so good.
On deck is Slade House, The Lake House, and Nature of the Beast.
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Post by smokeynspike on Nov 9, 2015 2:27:25 GMT
I am reading Illuminate by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It is the first in a new YA series. It reads really fast and is way different from most of the books I have ever read. At 599 pages, it is huge, but the story is compiled as a series of recovered documents, IMs, emails, journals, etc that progress the plot across the timeline seamlessly. I'm halfway through it and am fully engaged.
Melissa
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Post by DinCA on Nov 9, 2015 3:00:15 GMT
The sun is already going down in Minnesota, so you would think I would have more time to read this time of year but unfortunately that is not the case. Last week I started the thread and ran. I am a little sad that I haven't had that much to share on the reading front lately. As many of you know, I am a teacher. I am teaching three different classes, 154 students and one of my classes is a new prep (theatre arts....AHHHHH!). I am a mom of twin seven year olds who are involved in hockey and karate, AND, my mom had surgery on her back in early Sept. She has had many complications---starting with being in a rehab facility for six weeks. She has been home for a couple of weeks now, but it has been really rocky (will likely need another surgery), and I have been spending 2 to 3 hours a day with her or doing something for my parents (like running errands....my dad is on oxygen) in the evening. I've always been a night owl, so I could get my reading time in most days, but right now, the rest of my night is taking care of my kids/cooking/errands and grading/planning/bare essential cleaning of home---instead of my hour or two a night of reading and 30-60 minutes of exercise (both of which I need for my sanity and health). I've become a TV watcher again (while with my mom). I am missing my books. I just wanted to share because I feel like I am neglecting this thread a bit. I do think things will get better soon. Even this week, it started to get better a little. I have some hope. I didn't read anything this week but I just wanted to say I hope things calm down for you soon. Next to parenting, teaching has to be the hardest job on earth. Adding both of those to caring for parents, too, has got to be overwhelming. Hang in there! |
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Post by RobbyKay on Nov 9, 2015 4:07:07 GMT
Hey Readers!
I just finished Darynda Jones' most recent Charley Davidson novel, Eighth Grave After Dark. I enjoy this series, but I also think it's past its prime. I enjoyed the snappy dialog, but the convoluted world they live in confuses me. This one was better than the last several.
After several readers here recommended it, I picked up Julia Child's My Life in France. It's a good one, and every time I pick it up, I want to cook something!
Now I'm reading This is Your Life, Harriet Chance! by Jonathan Evison. Harriet's husband has died, and she discovers he purchased an Alaskan cruise for two without telling her. Now she needs to work up the courage to go, and decide who to take with her. The story is told in short vignette's of her life arranged out of sequence. So far I'm enjoying it.
Keep on reading!
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Nov 9, 2015 4:15:08 GMT
I'm about half way through Room. I borrowed it from my library on my Kindle and am about half way through it. I'm enjoying it, it's interesting reading from the perspective of a 5 year old child. |
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Post by freecharlie on Nov 9, 2015 4:17:51 GMT
I'm reading the latest in the Chronos Files, Time Bound. I enjoy them, it is time travle, but has some good history in it.
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Post by pjaye on Nov 9, 2015 4:40:31 GMT
As I mentioned in last week's thread I listened to These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly, it was in he new releases at the library and it sounded interesting. Set in 1890s 17yo Josephine wants to be a writer, but then her father dies from a gunshot wound and she teams up Eddie, a young reporter and they try to solve his mysterious death. What I didn't realise when I borrowed the book that it was YA...and it's "very" YA, not particularly believable. However I was putting some Ikea furniture together & then doing some re-organizing & cleaning and it was easy listening. By the time I finished my jobs I was over half way through so I decided to finish it. It was very predictable and as an adult I gave to 2 stars, however I think as a 13yo+ I would have loved this. If you have a teen girl, then I'd recommend it (no sex scenes, but some reference to prostitution...as in "poor women who have to resort to this", but mild, no details & no swearing).
Currently about half way through A Reunion of Ghosts by Judith Claire Mitchell. This is an usual book, party sad & serious but with an undercurrent of dark humour. It's the story of 3 sisters Lady, Vee, and Delph who are all now middle aged and living together. They have a dark and tragic family history and they are sure their genes are cursed by what their forefathers did. Therefore they decide that on the upcoming New Years Eve 1999 they will all commit suicide. But before they go, they write down the life story of their relatives and themselves as a collective suicide note. The book is this note. As sad as it sounds, I've laughed out loud several times...not about the horrible things the ancestors did, but the comments & wisecracks that the sisters make about their own lives. I have no idea where this is going, but I'm really liking it so far. For those of you who do audiobooks, I think this is definitely better in audio, the narrator (Kirsten Potter) has the perfect sardonic voice for this book. I think in "reading" it, it would be easy to miss some of the funny side.
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Post by miominmio on Nov 9, 2015 7:59:07 GMT
I just started on "The rule of four" by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason. I tried to read it some years ago, and didn't finish it, so I'm trying again. If I can't finish it this time, it gets donated.
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Nov 9, 2015 11:21:26 GMT
I read: The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra. 5/5. Loved it, not as much as A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, but still loved it.
Thanks for the recommendation. I loved Constellation...so I'll check out this book too. We might have similar taste is books; we've read some the same titles. |
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Nov 9, 2015 14:16:18 GMT
I read: The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra. 5/5. Loved it, not as much as A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, but still loved it.
Thanks for the recommendation. I loved Constellation...so I'll check out this book too. We might have similar taste is books; we've read some the same titles. If you loved Constellation I'm sure you would like this one too. His writing is wonderful! |
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Post by kckckc on Nov 9, 2015 14:27:10 GMT
The Great Carpezio I am sorry you haven't had time for reading - hope that changes soon. Thank you for taking the time to start these threads! I finished two this week. Hand to Mouth by Linda Tirado. This one was recommended/discussed on a 2Peas thread a while back. Tirado tells her personal story of being poor and tries to explain why poor people do the things/make the decisions that they do. Evidently there has been some backlash about this one - Tirado portrays herself as the typical poor person, but it seems that even though she went through a short period of living in poverty, she also had a private school education, was going to college, but dropped out (for unexplained reasons), her parents ended up buying her a house, etc. The entire last chapter is basically all rich people are bad and all poor people are good. I didn't like this one - it did have a false ring to it. If you are interested in the subject, I would recommend A Framework for Understanding Poverty instead. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Like pudgygroundhog I am a fan of Brooks. This one is the story of the Biblical King David. I liked it.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Nov 9, 2015 15:10:36 GMT
The Great Carpezio I am sorry you haven't had time for reading - hope that changes soon. Thank you for taking the time to start these threads! I finished two this week. Hand to Mouth by Linda Tirado. This one was recommended/discussed on a 2Peas thread a while back. Tirado tells her personal story of being poor and tries to explain why poor people do the things/make the decisions that they do. Evidently there has been some backlash about this one - Tirado portrays herself as the typical poor person, but it seems that even though she went through a short period of living in poverty, she also had a private school education, was going to college, but dropped out (for unexplained reasons), her parents ended up buying her a house, etc. The entire last chapter is basically all rich people are bad and all poor people are good. I didn't like this one - it did have a false ring to it. If you are interested in the subject, I would recommend A Framework for Understanding Poverty instead. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Like pudgygroundhog I am a fan of Brooks. This one is the story of the Biblical King David. I liked it.  I love Geraldine Brooks. |
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Post by utmr on Nov 9, 2015 15:23:50 GMT
I read two more in Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series : "Blind Decent" (#6) and "Hunting Season" (#10). Both ok, better than earlier ones, but not interesting to backtrack and read the missing ones. I'm going to clear the last few off my shelf and move on. Beautiful descriptions of the national parks, but Anna is almost as bad as Stephanie Plum about getting trapped with the murderer somewhere.
Over the weekend I read Robert Crais' "Suspect." Very very good- 4.5/5 stars. A stand alone about a police officer with PTSD with gets a K-9 partner returned from Afghanistan, also with dog-PTSD. Really terrific, read it in a day.
Now onto JA Jance "Dance with the Bones".
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Post by lynnek on Nov 9, 2015 17:34:17 GMT
I am reading Illuminate by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It is the first in a new YA series. It reads really fast and is way different from most of the books I have ever read. At 599 pages, it is huge, but the story is compiled as a series of recovered documents, IMs, emails, journals, etc that progress the plot across the timeline seamlessly. I'm halfway through it and am fully engaged. Melissa I ordered this in hardback because I think it is one that would be better read as a "real" book. I can't wait to start it! |
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Post by lynnek on Nov 9, 2015 17:39:47 GMT
I read the new John Grisham book last week - Rogue Lawyer. I didn't love his last one so I was interested to see what this one was like. I liked it much better. It was a little different in that it did not follow a lawyer and one case. It followed the lawyer and several of his cases along with his personal life. It was good.
The I read a quick novella, The Dance Begins which is a very short prequel to Diane Chamberlain's new book, Pretending to Dance. It was short and just gave a quick glimpse into the characters from the novel in one short situation. It was nothing spectacular, but now that I have started the novel, it has given me some background that I would probably be fine not knowing but it does fill in holes which is nice.
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Post by smokeynspike on Nov 9, 2015 17:47:21 GMT
I am reading Illuminate by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It is the first in a new YA series. It reads really fast and is way different from most of the books I have ever read. At 599 pages, it is huge, but the story is compiled as a series of recovered documents, IMs, emails, journals, etc that progress the plot across the timeline seamlessly. I'm halfway through it and am fully engaged. Melissa I ordered this in hardback because I think it is one that would be better read as a "real" book. I can't wait to start it! Let me know what you think! Melissa |
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,020
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Post by mimima on Nov 9, 2015 21:47:04 GMT
Carey Ayn - thank you for posting each week. I don't want you to feel any guilt even if all you do is post the weekly thread with no further text, ok? It's greatly appreciated!
I read two books this week, The Secret History by Stephanie Thornton about Empress (and Saint) Theodora of the Byzantium Empire. She had a seedy start to life, and it is chronicled but I enjoyed the history and the storyline. Good historical fiction.
This morning I finished The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood - since her debut novel is one of my favorites of all time, I like to read her books. I didn't like either character at first and disagreed with their choices, but thought the story was good. Not the deepest read I've ever read, and I probably will never re-read it, but enjoyed.
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Post by pjaye on Nov 10, 2015 2:11:19 GMT
This morning I finished The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood - since her debut novel is one of my favorites of all time, I like to read her books. I didn't like either character at first and disagreed with their choices, but thought the story was good. Not the deepest read I've ever read, and I probably will never re-read it, but enjoyed
I really liked this book. I thought while I was reading it that the author was really able to capture a person's grief.
After I finished the book I read more about the author, and learned that in 2002, her five-year-old daughter died suddenly from a strep infection.
Then it made sense why she was able to write about grief so convincingly.
She didn't write another book for quite a few years after that, and then wrote The Knitting Circle about a woman whose five-year-old daughter dies from meningitis.
On another note, her last book, The Italian Wife, I HATED with a passion. |
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I'm enjoying myself.
I love Geraldine Brooks. 
