The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Nov 5, 2018 0:36:03 GMT
What books did you read this week?
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Post by jackietex on Nov 5, 2018 1:52:58 GMT
I finished listening to Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, and now I'm listening to Be Frank With Me by Julia Claiborne Johnson, which I'm enjoying so far.
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,752
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Post by gottapeanow on Nov 5, 2018 2:34:59 GMT
I read two this week.
1. Broken Field by Jeff Hull. Here is part of the GR summary. Told from the perspective of a high school girl and a football coach, Broken Field reveals the tensions that tear at the fabric of a small town when a high school hazing incident escalates and threatens a championship season. Set on the high prairies of Montana, in small towns scattered across vast landscapes, the distances in Broken Field are both insurmountable and deeply internalized. Life is dusty and hard, and men are judged by their labor. Women have to be tougher yet. That’s what sixteen-year-old Josie Frehse learns as she struggles to meet the expectations of her community while fumbling with her own desires.
And here is my review. I loved the characters in this, but I thought the ending was a bit abrupt and not realistic. Still, Hull is a great writer, and he did an excellent job of portraying the life in that part of the country. 4/5 stars.
2. Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly. Bosch and Ballard team up for the first time. Great stuff. 5/5 stars.
Lisa
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Nov 5, 2018 11:26:25 GMT
I finished THEN SHE WAS GONE by Lisa Jewell. I thought it was a well done thriller. Kept me reading. I enjoyed the characters. I’ll read more by this author. It’s about a family that falls apart when their oldest daughter goes missing on her way to the library.
Now I’m reading THE TRUST by Ronald Balson, same author as the Once Ws Were Brothers and Saving Sophie series. Those books were wonderful - great mysteries with some worthwhile depth - so I’m expecting the same from this. I’m excited about it. I’ve only just started but I’m enjoying seeing the same main characters again.
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Post by utmr on Nov 5, 2018 11:54:20 GMT
Daniel Silva's "The Other Woman". Very good, 4 stars, maybe a little more. Russian moles inside MI6. Really good, as always.
Alex Berensen's "The Deceivers". Excellent, 5 stars, and I seldom give 5. Russian interference in the US, false flag terrorist attacks, very fast paced and riveting.
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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 Nov 5, 2018 14:25:10 GMT
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. I wouldn’t even know how to summarize the plot for someone else. It was super confusing to me at times, and it was one of those books where you finish that last page and just think “huh...” But I cant say I didn’t like it. I thought it was very clever and unique. Just puzzling at times!
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Post by yodutchess on Nov 5, 2018 15:25:05 GMT
I read Free Food from Millionaires about first generation Korean immigrants in Queens and Manhattan. Very well written. I read Pachinko by the same author this summer, another great multi- generation book.
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Post by lynnek on Nov 5, 2018 15:57:42 GMT
janeliz - That was the way Sometimes I Lie was for me too! I finished and I was not sure what the heck happened. But I did like the book. Even the twists had twists. I finished one this week - Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage. Wow was that crazy! I little girl who loves her dad so much and wants to get rid of her mom so she can have her dad to herself. A crazy read but I read it fast just because I had to see what the heck was happening.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,662
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Post by Rhondito on Nov 5, 2018 16:09:57 GMT
I finished Rust and Stardust after seeing so many here say they loved it. I thought it was a wonderfully written account of a very tragic tale. It made me try to reconcile my brain as an adult in 2018 with an eleven year old in 1948 - would an 11 yr old today be as naive? Great read. 5/5 I read Free Food from Millionaires about first generation Korean immigrants in Queens and Manhattan. Very well written. I read Pachinko by the same author this summer, another great multi- generation book. I started Pachinko this weekend - it's reminding me of The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan... very descriptive and the author takes her time to tell the story. I've added Free Food from Millionaires to my reading list! |
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craswell
Junior Member
Posts: 79
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Post by craswell on Nov 5, 2018 16:51:41 GMT
I read Still Life by Louise Penny. It is the first in a series of detective/mystery novels set in a small town outside of Montreal. It was delightful and I look forward to reading more in the series. If you enjoy Agatha Christie, you will enjoy this novel - it's as much about the relationships between the residents of Three Pines as it is the mystery.
This book was recommended by one of my favorite reading podcasts, What Should I Read Next by Anne Bogel. She also has a great blog called The Modern Mrs. Darcy. If you are a reader looking for recommendations, both are terrific and entertaining resources.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on Nov 5, 2018 16:54:39 GMT
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. I wouldn’t even know how to summarize the plot for someone else. It was super confusing to me at times, and it was one of those books where you finish that last page and just think “huh...” But I cant say I didn’t like it. I thought it was very clever and unique. Just puzzling at times! I felt the same way, I even started a thread about it! 2peasrefugees.boards.net/thread/81790/lie-alice-feeney-spoiler |
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Post by ruralgirl on Nov 5, 2018 18:10:03 GMT
I read Free Food from Millionaires about first generation Korean immigrants in Queens and Manhattan. Very well written. I read Pachinko by the same author this summer, another great multi- generation book. The Kindle version of Free Food for Millionaires is $2.99 right now. |
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Post by yodutchess on Nov 5, 2018 18:48:42 GMT
I finished Rust and Stardust after seeing so many here say they loved it. I thought it was a wonderfully written account of a very tragic tale. It made me try to reconcile my brain as an adult in 2018 with an eleven year old in 1948 - would an 11 yr old today be as naive? Great read. 5/5 I read Free Food from Millionaires about first generation Korean immigrants in Queens and Manhattan. Very well written. I read Pachinko by the same author this summer, another great multi- generation book. I started Pachinko this weekend - it's reminding me of The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan... very descriptive and the author takes her time to tell the story. I've added Free Food from Millionaires to my reading list! I have added The Valley of Amazement to my list. I am taking a break from World War II. |
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on Nov 5, 2018 19:31:38 GMT
I read Island of the Mad by Laurie King. It's the latest (#15) in her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. They've been pretty meh for years, but I keep trying. This one was a solid three stars. Cole Porter was a character in the book, and I got interested in learning more about him, so I got a bio from the library and I'm just getting started on that.
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Post by alsomsknit on Nov 5, 2018 20:34:33 GMT
I read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It was excellent!
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Post by mrgiedrnkr on Nov 5, 2018 21:43:51 GMT
Based on a recommendation here, I read The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, I really liked it and started the next book in the series. Six adopted girls are a family and I am guessing each book is one of them fin dining their heritage. (Yes, title is 7 but I said 6. Not sure how the 7th is going to appear!)
Stacy
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Post by craftmepink on Nov 5, 2018 21:53:09 GMT
Finally finished The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, way too long and I didn't like the ending. It was beautifully written but just felt too long.
Finished Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan, 4.5/5 stars. This book surprise me, I loved this book. It had me hooked. The main character, Lydia works in a bookstore and one day she finds one of the regulars at the store has killed himself by hanging himself (in the bookstore). What's even stranger is he has a picture of her in his pocket. The mystery keeps you guessing. I highly recommend this! If you love bookstores and mysteries, you will love this book. And I never guessed the ending.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 6, 2018 0:13:41 GMT
I just finished Believe Me by J P Delaney. A few parts of this book I found tiresome but overall it was a good thriller. Her other book The Girl Before is being made into a movie with Ron Howard directing. Tonight I'll start Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter. ETA: Just got a notice from the library that Something in the Water is ready for pickup. What to read, what to read.  |
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Post by sues on Nov 6, 2018 0:24:34 GMT
I read The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish - which was shocking and heartbreaking and funny at different times. If anyone calls her 'an overnight success', you couldn't blame her for tackling them. This is not a book for the faint of heart- she can be occasionally vulgar and graphic, but always interesting. The books reads like she speaks and I had her voice in my head the whole time.
and
All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin - great story. It had me hooked right away. I love the way you get alternating points of view with each chapter. BUT- the end of the book was like whiplash. You could feel it was winding up to an explosive end - and then pffffffft. It was like someone nudged her and said 'tie it up fast'.
and I'm still reading
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks- a bunch of short stories that are OK so far. Nothing that's grabbing me.
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Post by fotos4u2 on Nov 6, 2018 0:40:16 GMT
I've been on a massive non-reading strike. Hopefully that's coming to an end helped by us picking up two long ago requested books from the library this week. So over the last month I've read 3 books:
The Lost Family by Jenna Blum. Gave this 3 stars on Goodreads. Was expecting to like it more. I guess maybe it's also a bit that I expected it to be more of a story about Peter, the Auschwitz survivor, and how he lived his life after moving to America and surviving the tragedy. Whereas it was more about other people in his life and I guess how his issues affected them? I'm not even sure if that was it. I didn't really care for his wife or daughter.
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. I picked this up at the amazon bookstore a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to read it (even though I have a whole pile of other books to read). I gave it 4 stars. I probably would have given it 5 stars if the book jacket summary had been more accurate (it implies this a story about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, but really it could have been any fire or other tragedy during that time period).
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Another 4 star. Finished this last night. Some of the characters were so frustrating, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I'm not currently reading anything else, but probably will attack the book my oldest is reading (we're on opposite work schedules and I read much faster than she does) "Other People's Houses" by Abbi Waxman.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,763
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Post by scrapngranny on Nov 6, 2018 2:18:29 GMT
I agree with all the posters about Sometimes I Lie. It was one of those books you can’t say if you loved it or hated it. I guess if it left us talking about it, that makes it a success.
This week I joined the club and read The Dream Daughter , by Diane Chamberlain. I loved it and never would have guessed the ending. I almost resisted reading it because I don’t like time travel books. I’m so glad I listened to all the Peas.
I’m not sure what is up next.
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,763
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Post by scrapngranny on Nov 6, 2018 2:24:51 GMT
Finally finished The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, way too long and I didn't like the ending. It was beautifully written but just felt too long. I won’t read any more Kate Morton books. She is just too wordy, for me almost to the point of ruining the story. After I finished The Forgotten Garden, I said never again. |
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Nov 6, 2018 13:26:13 GMT
I've been on a massive non-reading strike. Hopefully that's coming to an end helped by us picking up two long ago requested books from the library this week. So over the last month I've read 3 books: The Lost Family by Jenna Blum. Gave this 3 stars on Goodreads. Was expecting to like it more. I guess maybe it's also a bit that I expected it to be more of a story about Peter, the Auschwitz survivor, and how he lived his life after moving to America and surviving the tragedy. Whereas it was more about other people in his life and I guess how his issues affected them? I'm not even sure if that was it. I didn't really care for his wife or daughter. A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner. I picked this up at the amazon bookstore a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to read it (even though I have a whole pile of other books to read). I gave it 4 stars. I probably would have given it 5 stars if the book jacket summary had been more accurate (it implies this a story about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, but really it could have been any fire or other tragedy during that time period). Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. Another 4 star. Finished this last night. Some of the characters were so frustrating, but it was still an enjoyable read. I'm not currently reading anything else, but probably will attack the book my oldest is reading (we're on opposite work schedules and I read much faster than she does) "Other People's Houses" by Abbi Waxman. I loved A Fall if Marigolds and I really love the author. I’ve read many by her. She’s a wonderful storyteller. I used the on line summary before reading the book and took the story to be about a scarf with marigolds on it and this scarf’s journey as its owners immigrate / travel / what they go through. Secrets of a Charmed Life, also by Susan Messnier, is a wonderful WWII story. |
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Nov 7, 2018 1:55:04 GMT
I've been reading a good bit, but just haven't been here to check in.
Quest to the Uncharted Lands was a YA fantasy book. It was a quick read and pretty enjoyable.
I read two books by Lauren Groff. First was Florida which is collection of short stories. It's always interesting reading short stories because I get caught up in certain characters and plots and then the story is over. I loved this story collection and I'm in awe of Groff's writing.
I then read Fates and Furies. This is probably Groff's most recognized book, but I didn't care for it as much. I really admired her writing in this book, but I just couldn't get behind the two central characters. Of all her books, I think Monsters of Templeton is the best.
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Deleted
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May 18, 2024 8:02:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 17:04:59 GMT
Just finished The Storm by Arif Anwar. Excellent. Learned a lot of history as well as a good story.
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