pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 25, 2016 19:11:25 GMT
I read the first of the Neapolitan series and kept wondering what I was missing. I didn't like it. I couldn't tell if it was the original writing or the translation, but I thought the writing was very flat. I'm not bothering with the rest of the series. My mom had the same reaction I did, but soldiered on because she had already purchased the series. She has liked them better as they have gone on (but that's still not enough to get me to read the rest of the series).
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Post by pjaye on Jan 26, 2016 2:39:56 GMT
I read the first of the Neapolitan series and kept wondering what I was missing. I didn't like it. I couldn't tell if it was the original writing or the translation I don't mind the writing, although I am listening to the audiobook and the narrator has a really pleasant voice, so maybe that is helping. Nothing much is happening though, it's like watching an episode of "Days of Our Lives" where all the details and conversations are covered but at the end it's still the same day and not much has occurred (except lots of arguments!) I'm still interested enough to keep listening, but I'm not seeing how they could have got some of the rave reviews that I've read.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jan 26, 2016 2:46:58 GMT
I read the first of the Neapolitan series and kept wondering what I was missing. I didn't like it. I couldn't tell if it was the original writing or the translation I don't mind the writing, although I am listening to the audiobook and the narrator has a really pleasant voice, so maybe that is helping. Nothing much is happening though, it's like watching an episode of "Days of Our Lives" where all the details and conversations are covered but at the end it's still the same day and not much has occurred (except lots of arguments!) I'm still interested enough to keep listening, but I'm not seeing how they could have got some of the rave reviews that I've read. The fourth book kept popping up on end of year lists and critics seems to rave; but everybody I know who has read them has been "meh". Sometimes I won't personally like a book, but I can understand the appeal or respect it for some reason - but I'm kind of lost on these ones. Oh well. It's not like I'm hurting for books to read, lol.
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Post by fotos4u2 on Jan 26, 2016 4:57:19 GMT
I finished Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova which was about a family with a Huntington's diagnosis. It wasn't quite as good as either of her previous books. I think part of it was neither of the narrators (it's narrated by the patriarch who's diagnosed and one of his daughters who tries to decide whether to be tested) were particularly likeable--especially the daughter.
After that I read Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements. I actually bought this for ds for Christmas and on a whim decided to read it since he wasn't. It's about a teenage boy who wakes up invisible. It was a really quick read and was definitely more young adult than I anticipated.
Then my mom loaned me The Missing Kennedy by Elizabeth Koelher-Pentacoff about Rosemary Kennedy. It was pretty bad. Definitely suggest you skip this one.
Now I'm reading yet another book I bought for ds--Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. I'm not sure if I like it. I don't think I'm the target reader though. I have a feeling my sort of nerdy video game addict son will like it should he ever get around to reading it.
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Post by auntkelly on Jan 27, 2016 2:02:33 GMT
I just started Indignation by Phillip Roth.. I'm not very far into it, but I think it will be good. I'm reading it because I have a friend who saw the movie at a film festival and said it was good. If you think you might want to read the book, do not read the reviews on Amazon. The very first review is by some idiot who reveals a spoiler, and then basically says "it's really not a spoiler because if you're smart, you'll have figured it out before the spoiler is revealed."
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,022
Jun 25, 2014 19:25:50 GMT
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Post by mimima on Jan 27, 2016 16:55:42 GMT
I finished Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder, notations by Pamela Hill Smith. It was one of those books I had stashed around the house and read a few pages here and there. I thought it was really good - neat to see the genesis of the beloved stories, and while I'd taken the class from Hill Smith, so much of the information was familiar, I enjoyed her notes on historical contexts and histories of people.
I read the brilliant and amazing Laurus by Evgeney Vodolaskin. It's very Russian and very Russian Orthodox (which I am) but I don't know how it would translate to those who aren't. It's a beautiful story about a medieval Russian monk, it's definitely one I'll re-read.
For Book club, I read The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. Some parts made me laugh out loud, but I thought the author lost control of his character's voice and the plot a bit in the middle. It was a cute, quick, sweet read.
I read one of the Sharyn McCrumb Ballad Novels, King's Mountain. It's not set with the familiar characters of the series, but is an interesting, albeit plodding in pace, story of a Revolutionary War battle.
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betazed
Junior Member
Posts: 84
Jun 28, 2014 3:17:59 GMT
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Post by betazed on Jan 27, 2016 17:20:31 GMT
Born Country - Randy Owen (Lead singer from the group Alabama) tells his story of growing up and how Alabama came to be.
Just starting The Light Between Oceans (Stedman). Looking forward to reading it.
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Post by ExpatBackHome on Jan 29, 2016 11:27:00 GMT
I just finished Lord of the Flies. I remember reading it in school but not very much about it. It was a fast read and I enjoyed it.
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