The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on May 22, 2016 15:45:21 GMT
Hello Readers!
Last week I posted and ran. Sorry. My reading mojo has taken a serious hit as of late.
I finished one book: The Rose and the Dagger
It was the second of a two part series. I read the other a couple weeks ago. It was fine. I have it 3/5. Glad it's done. I'm reading the Dylan Klebold's mom book now.
What did you read this week?
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,633
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Post by janeliz on May 22, 2016 16:37:37 GMT
I read While You Were Mine by Ann Howard Creel. I believe it was a Kindle First selection. It was a very sweet love story set in post-WWII Manhattan.
I'm now reading The Nest.
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,752
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Post by gottapeanow on May 22, 2016 16:41:44 GMT
I read one book this week, Pretty Baby, by Mary Kubica. I really liked it. 4/5 stars.
A while back, I read a book that is not on GR, so I don't think that I ever put it on here. It's called My Absolute Journey by Serena King. I actually edited this book, but I honestly loved it. I have to say here that I do not like every book that I work on and do not agree with all of the contents of each book that I edit. Even so, I work hard to help the author effectively communicate his/her message.
However, I loved My Absolute Journey. Serena tells the story of growing up in poverty, extreme dysfunction, abuse and chaos. She has overcome those challenges and is now a college graduate with a successful career. Her story is so inspiring, and she gives some advice and some practical journaling tips for the reader. I really enjoyed working with her.
Lisa
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on May 22, 2016 17:19:32 GMT
As predicted, I had no time to read. (Dh is on vacation.)
Will finish Room next week.
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Post by cadoodlebug on May 22, 2016 17:55:05 GMT
I am currently reading The last September by Nina de Gramont. So far I am loving this book as it grabbed me from the beginning. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
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Post by RobbyKay on May 22, 2016 18:08:05 GMT
Hey Readers,
I finished A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. It was a twining of tales; one of a Japanese teenager just before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and one of a middle aged author living on a remote island in western Canada. Their stories cross unexpectedly, and the drama is in how the stories work out. It was a good read.
I just picked up Love That Boy by Ron Fournier. He is a former white house correspondent who discovers his quirky, socially awkward son has Apserger's syndrome, and the two set out to build their relationship by visiting presidential homes and libraries, a topic that his son adores. A lot of the book is devoted to discussing the expectations we have as parents, and how the ways we expect to communicate and show love when we think about raising children are really different from reality. But the parts I like best are when they visit these historical sites, and we experience the author's pride, when his son discusses the historical site with so much knowledge that he is putting the tour guide to shame, and his embarrassment when his son asks so many questions that the other tourists get annoyed, to his guilt for feeling embarrassed about hos own son. I see a lot of my own kids in this family, and it's nice to see some of my own fears and guilts addressed.
I'm still reading Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits. It's quirky and interesting, I just keep having to skip it for a few days so I can read something that comes up.
Happy reading!
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,074
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on May 22, 2016 20:31:17 GMT
I finished reading a thriller called What She Knew. Here's the summary copied from Amazon: In a heartbeat, everything changes… Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes. Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion. As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most. Where is Ben? The clock is ticking... |
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Post by quinlove on May 22, 2016 20:52:50 GMT
I finished reading a thriller called What She Knew. Here's the summary copied from Amazon: In a heartbeat, everything changes… Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes. Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion. As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that nothing is quite as she imagined it to be, not even her own judgment. And the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most. Where is Ben? The clock is ticking... So, you liked it ? Sounds good to me what I read above. Thanks. |
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Post by hollymolly on May 22, 2016 22:47:55 GMT
I want to read What She Knew! Is it as good as it sounds?
I'd gotten bogged down in a couple of books that I enjoyed but weren't page turners, so they took me entirely too long to read. I made up time by reading three books this week.
Something Borrowed and Something Blue by Emily Giffen. I wasn't sure I'd like either before I read them. Emily Giffen is so good at taking situations that turn me off but then making me care about the characters so that I can sympathize with them and appreciate the complexities of their decisions. How could I sympathize with a couple of cheaters? I could and did and was rooting for them. How could I enjoy a book from the viewpoint of Darcy, who was so awful in Something Borrowed? I managed that too, and was really happy with the ending.
I followed those with something completely different. Case Histories by Kate Atkinson. I had asked on here a few months ago if her Jackson Brodie books should be read in order, after I discovered I had bought the fourth in a series. I'm glad I did, because I found the first three books shortly after in a used bookstore, and even though I was on a book diet, I was able to justify completing the collection. Case Histories is the first. It gripped me from the beginning. I like Jackson, and am looking forward to seeing more of him.
Now I'm reading Faithful Place by Tana French. It's not grabbing me quite as quickly as Case Histories, but I do like it. And the main character's daughter is named Holly.
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,476
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Post by edie3 on May 23, 2016 0:32:09 GMT
I just finished The Orphan Train and really loved it. Hard to believe children went through that.
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Post by annabella on May 23, 2016 3:24:24 GMT
I started a new job last week which means I'm not going to the gym at lunchtime to read on the bike anymore. So I still haven't finished Sing To Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who's Next by L.A. Reid
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Post by pjaye on May 23, 2016 7:26:59 GMT
I want to read What She Knew! Is it as good as it sounds? I didn't think so. I thought it was slow going, and I'm one who often likes 'slow books' that other people complain about. I also thought the ending was a cop out...even though you find out what happened, the authors doesn't tell us why it happened. |
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Post by smalltowngirlie on May 23, 2016 10:37:33 GMT
I just finished The Orphan Train and really loved it. Hard to believe children went through that. I just started reading this one. Like it so far. |
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
RefuPea #1406
Posts: 2,648
Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on May 23, 2016 12:01:53 GMT
I just finished The Orphan Train and really loved it. Hard to believe children went through that. I liked this one, too. Never learned about this taking place in our history. |
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 23, 2016 14:10:19 GMT
I read:
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. 5/5 stars. Loved it. Before picking this up I knew it was a well received memoir by an acclaimed scientist, but didn't know much else. I was expecting something interesting about science and her career, but the book was so much more than that. She does talk about her passion for science and her career, but she also talks frankly about her bipolar disorder, becoming a mother, and most importantly her friendship and partnership with Bill. The writing was wonderful and I like her sense of humor. She also has short chapters about trees/plants and relates these back to chapters on her own life. One of my favorite books so far this year.
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 5/5 stars. Great companion book to the cast recording, show, and Chernow's biography. Everything about it is gorgeous - the photos, the fonts, the paper.
A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold. 4/5 stars. Sue Klebold is the mom of Dylan Klebold, one of the Columbine shooters. Sad read, but good. She speaks eloquently about what they went through and it was interesting to get the backstory on Dylan (his family has been pretty silent since Columbine).
ETA: I'm currently reading The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney. On deck is The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut and Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on May 23, 2016 15:12:16 GMT
I finished reading a thriller called What She Knew. Here's the summary copied from Amazon: Did you enjoy it? I just picked this up at the used book store! |
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Post by lynnek on May 23, 2016 15:26:36 GMT
I finished reading a thriller called What She Knew. Here's the summary copied from Amazon: Did you enjoy it? I just picked this up at the used book store! We read it last month for my book club. It did not make a great book club selection I didn't think because it was not filled with a lot of meaty things to talk about. But it was a fine beachy type of read. Definitely not my favorite of the year but I was glad I read it and it held my attention. I do agree with pjaye in that I wish there had been a little more at the end. But I would recommend the book for an easy engaging read. |
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Post by lynnek on May 23, 2016 15:30:59 GMT
I finished Luckiest Girl in the World by Jessica Knoll. I had checked this out from the library multiple times since it came out, but never seemed to get it read. I finally put it at the top of the to read. It was HARD to get into. I didn't like the main character and I didn't really see where the book was going, until I did. Then it was so much better! There was so much more meat to the book then I expected at first!
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Post by Fidget on May 23, 2016 17:02:20 GMT
I am struggling through The Children's Crusade by Ann Packer, it's a snoozer. I'm reading it for book club which meets on Wednesday. I'm only half way through it, I honestly don't think I'm going to be able to finish it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 23:21:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 18:50:41 GMT
I read: Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 5/5 stars. Great companion book to the cast recording, show, and Chernow's biography. Everything about it is gorgeous - the photos, the fonts, the paper. I'm about 60% of the way through Chernow's biography. It's the worlds longest book!! But...I have learned more about the beginnings of our country than in any college class I took (and I was a history major).
I will have to get Miranda's next.
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Post by kckckc on May 23, 2016 18:54:58 GMT
I finished two books this week.
The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota. Three young Indian men, who live in various sad situations, some worse than others, but all without much hope of things getting better, travel by various means to England. Life there is basically very little better/more promising than their lives in India. A very good, but depressing book. 5/5
Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings by Stephen O'Connor. This one is hard to judge. The story of Jefferson and Hemings is told by both their viewpoints, as well as by a memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson's death. Various short letters/writings by and about Jefferson are also included. Interspersed in this story are dream sequences of Jefferson watching a movie about his life, Hemings building a machine that becomes the world, and Jefferson and Hemings on a subway car. I really liked the actual story, but hated the dream sequences - I felt like they disrupted the story and added nothing. I would give the story a 5/5, but because of the added material, I would only give the book as a whole a 3.5/5.
Currently reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 23, 2016 19:12:17 GMT
I read: Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 5/5 stars. Great companion book to the cast recording, show, and Chernow's biography. Everything about it is gorgeous - the photos, the fonts, the paper. I'm about 60% of the way through Chernow's biography. It's the worlds longest book!! But...I have learned more about the beginnings of our country than in any college class I took (and I was a history major).
I will have to get Miranda's next.
Chernow's book is super interesting, although it is a loooong read.  I actually read other books in the middle of it because I just needed a brainless thriller. Miranda's book is great. Definitely a lot lighter, lol. |
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,643
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on May 23, 2016 19:14:35 GMT
I finished two books this week. The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota. Three young Indian men, who live in various sad situations, some worse than others, but all without much hope of things getting better, travel by various means to England. Life there is basically very little better/more promising than their lives in India. A very good, but depressing book. 5/5 Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings by Stephen O'Connor. This one is hard to judge. The story of Jefferson and Hemings is told by both their viewpoints, as well as by a memoir written by Hemings after Jefferson's death. Various short letters/writings by and about Jefferson are also included. Interspersed in this story are dream sequences of Jefferson watching a movie about his life, Hemings building a machine that becomes the world, and Jefferson and Hemings on a subway car. I really liked the actual story, but hated the dream sequences - I felt like they disrupted the story and added nothing. I would give the story a 5/5, but because of the added material, I would only give the book as a whole a 3.5/5. Currently reading Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly. I had the same reaction to The Year of the Runaways. I also wish I had a Hindi/whatever local dialect they were speaking dictionary handy - the writing was definitely authentic. I'm on the waitlist for Lilac Girls and want to read the Jefferson book. |
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Post by ihaveonly1l on May 23, 2016 21:56:34 GMT
I'm currently reading Night Road. It's ok but the writing seems a bit simple-if that makes any sense.
I wanted to say thanks to whomever recommended the google extension that tells you if the book is available in your library! It's great!
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edie3
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,476
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Post by edie3 on May 23, 2016 22:08:45 GMT
Has anyone read Bittersweet? I am having a hard time getting into it. |
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,020
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Post by mimima on May 23, 2016 22:12:03 GMT
I read a chronicle of the 2004 World Series winning Red Sox by two fans, novelists Stewart O'Nan and Stephen King, "Faithful".
I expected it to be a good book, I did not expect to enjoy it quite so much, or to laugh out loud as much
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Post by birukitty on May 23, 2016 22:14:39 GMT
I've been dealing with daily migraines-today is day 4-so I only read one book this week.
I read The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner I liked this book very much. It is the story of a college girl who is hired by an elderly woman, an 83 year old librarian to transcribe a 17th century diary from her ancestor. This ancestor turns out to be a young woman, Mercy Hayworth ,a victim of the Salem witch trails.
I learned a lot about the Salem witch trails from this book even though it is only partially historical fiction, the rest taking place in current time. Several years ago I actually went to Salem, Mass. and toured the museum there knowing nothing about this event in history. I did take what photos I could and saved the brochures to make a scrapbook later. I only wished I'd read this book before that trip. There are many nonfiction books on this subject that are much deeper in scope I am sure. This one is pure fiction but it was enjoyable to read because it told the story from the inside-from one of the young women who was accused. She did exist and though she was one of the last to be accused in this fictional account it showed what happened it the town from her viewpoint.
I'm going to expand on this subject and now read a nonfiction book on the subject. I have seen "The Crucible" with Daniel Day Lewis and Winona Ryder so I don't want to read that play. I would rather read a non-fiction book now. I'll do some searching at my local library and see what they have. Anyway I give this book 4 stars even though it was a light read.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by NicL on May 23, 2016 22:20:40 GMT
I just bought Silent Scream by Angela Marsons for my kindle.
Thank you to the pea who recommended this - at $1.45 it's a bargain. I only have 15% read so far but I am loving it and I can't wait to pick it up again. It's been too long since I felt that way!
From Amazon: Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.
But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.
As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?
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Post by msdintz on May 24, 2016 12:04:49 GMT
I read The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah. I am surprised at how much I liked it. Also this week was What she Knew by Gilly Mcmillian. It was good but not as good as I had hoped. The ending was kind of..blah I guess. I also recently read The Beast by JR Ward. Love me some brothers! Was one of her better ones. Glad to see her getting her groove back, I have not been loving her recent books. This one I recommend.
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Post by pjaye on May 24, 2016 13:15:39 GMT
This week I finished Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter. First books of hers that I have read. Two sisters Claire and Lydia have been estranged since their other sister Julia vanished 20 years ago. Now Claire's husband has just been killed and they reconnect. At the same time another teenage girl has also gone missing which stirs up their memories of Julia. When Claire starts to go through her late husband's computer she discovers some disturbing violent porn videos. My main problem with thrillers and whodunit books is that the characters never take the obvious step of going to the police, but this started out well enough as when Claire finds all that stuff on the computer - so does go straight to the police. But then it takes the usual turn, bad guys, kidnappings etc and the main character/s then head off on their own and *surprise* do everything the bad guys want without telling the police or the FBI. Apart from that (for me) very obvious issue the book did keep me interested and there were a few twists that I didn't see coming. Some of the descriptions are quite violent/graphic although short and admittedly I did skip forward through those bits. I get the picture when it says someone was tortured and killed, I don't need the details of how. I gave it 3 stars.
Next was The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. I got this based on her next book "I'll Give You the Sun" which I loved. Both are YA, but this is written for a much younger reader and I don't think it translates well to older readers like her second book did. Still it was short, so I finished it. Basically it's about a 17yo girl who is having trouble coping with the sudden death of her older sister. She finds herself caught between her sisters boyfriend and the cute new guy. It's YA romance, with a bit of grief thrown in and everyone is "quirky" in some way. As an adult reader I was bored, but I suspect my 14yo self would have loved it. 2 stars.
I have recently read two books that mention Frank Lloyd Wright (the architect), and I've had Loving Frank by Nancy Horan on my TBR list for quite awhile, so it seemed like a perfect time to listen to it. This is set during the early years of Frank's career and starts in 1903. Frank meets Mamah Cheney when he is hired by her husband, both are married with children but start an affair. Eventually they run off together, which shocks their social circle and makes them outcasts. It's more Mamah's story than about Frank or his career, and how she copes with leaving her marriage and children and managing the quite demanding and eccentric Frank as well as trying to establish a career for herself. I'm finding it interesting but it does get a bit drawn out at times. I know from reading the other book that Frank was married to someone else when he died so I'm interested to see how this ends...I still have about 1/4 of the book left. |
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I actually read other books in the middle of it because I just needed a brainless thriller. Miranda's book is great. Definitely a lot lighter, lol.
