The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,936 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Nov 26, 2018 5:11:33 GMT
What did you read this week?
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by gottapeanow on Nov 26, 2018 5:29:58 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread every week, Carey Ayn.
I read two books.
We had our family Thanksgiving today. Everything seemed like it took forever to fix, but in between cooking and baking, I managed to finish A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne. I couldn't put it down!
Oh. My. Maurice is the character that you love to hate. The only other character I have ever read who comes close is Amy in Gone, Girl. But Maurice is actually worse. Yes, really. With that said, the book is amazing. I gasped out loud at least ten times. At least. That's some kind of record for me. You just can't believe that a person could be so evil. This was incredibly well-done. 5/5 stars.
I also read A Long Road to Mercy by Baldacci. Atlee Pine, the a strong and sassy new MC, teams up with Carol Blum for all kinds of adventures. It's the perfect set up for more books to follow. And there's a bit of romance too. 4/5 stars.
Lisa
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Post by cadoodlebug on Nov 26, 2018 6:02:19 GMT
I read a few chapters of The Perfect Couple and realized it is billed as *the perfect beach read.* Well, in the middle of winter, I think I'll pass. Then I started The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager. I'm about halfway through the book and I find it really compelling. So many questions, so few answers.
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Post by NicL on Nov 26, 2018 6:11:55 GMT
I read The Lost Man by Jane Harper. 5 stars, loved this one.
She also wrote The Dry which I really liked and Force of Nature which missed the mark a bit for me. The Lost Man is her best yet, a stand alone not related to the Aaron Falk series. Jane perfectly captured the hot, dry outback. The mystery was very good, it builds towards the end with a few gasps.......Highly recommended!
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Post by NicL on Nov 26, 2018 6:13:25 GMT
I managed to finish A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne. I couldn't put it down! Oh. My. Maurice is the character that you love to hate. The only other character I have ever read who comes close is Amy in Gone, Girl. But Maurice is actually worse. Yes, really. With that said, the book is amazing. I gasped out loud at least ten times. At least. That's some kind of record for me. You just can't believe that a person could be so evil. This was incredibly well-done. 5/5 stars. Going to add this to my list, thanks |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:17:46 GMT
Hi peas! I haven't participated in a while, so I'm going to add what I've read recently. Definitely NOT all in the last week.
The Woman in the Strongbox (Missing collection by Maureen O'Hagan, 3 stars
From a review, "This short novella is part of the Amazon Prime Reading Missing Series. It’s the true story of Lori Ruff who commits suicide, at the age of 43, in the driveway of her former’s husband’s house on Xmas eve. The resulting investigation turns up a strong box that literally opens up a mystery that takes many years and several different resources to unravel."
I found it to be very interesting and I feel like possible sexual abuse in her childhood may have been the cause for her disappearance. |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:18:25 GMT
Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb, 4 stars
From a review, "A haunted house, a century old mystery, a ghost story, a mysterious creature in the lake, secrets, lies, murder…" I enjoyed this book. It was a nice, easy read.  |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:26:42 GMT
When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, 4 stars
The novel takes place in Worthy Georgia. One night, after a high school football game three cheerleaders die in a car accident and one survives. The driver of the other car is also a student at the same high school and he lives. I actually liked that there were no clear cut answers to who was at fault. It felt uncomfortable at times, very sad, BUT worth reading. If anything else, you see the story from all sides. |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:33:14 GMT
The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen , 3 stars
Because I liked We were Worthy, I read another book by the same author.
"From the outside, Sycamore Glen, North Carolina, might look like the perfect all-American neighborhood. But behind the white picket fences lies a web of secrets that reach from house to house. Up and down the streets, neighbors quietly bear the weight of their own pasts—until an accident at the community pool upsets the delicate equilibrium. And when tragic circumstances compel a woman to return to Sycamore Glen after years of self-imposed banishment, the tangle of the neighbors’ intertwined lives begins to unravel." |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:33:53 GMT
The Nine of Us: Growing Up Kennedy by Jean Kennedy Smith, 3 stars
I felt like the Kennedy family history was perhaps a bit glossed over by JFK's younger sister, but with all the publicity they've had over the years, I can see why the book was very positive.
I had previously read Rosemary: The hidden Kennedy daughter. I thought it would be interesting to see a different perspective of the family. |
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Post by refugeepea on Nov 26, 2018 6:40:21 GMT
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín, 3 stars
This was one of those books that just did not click with me. I thought it was well written. I could easily transport myself to Brooklyn and Ireland in the 1950's. It was hard to understand the main character. I felt like there wasn't any growth with her. Maybe that's why?   |
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Nov 26, 2018 12:15:16 GMT
I was able to read two this week.
At 500+ pages The Overstory is an ambitious book and almost like reading 3 novels in one. It begins with a group of short stories (I felt like this was the strongest section). In the middle section of the book, characters from the short stories begin to come together in a more traditional plot line. The ending was a bit more experimental and fell apart a bit for me. The over riding theme of the novel is trees and efforts to preserve old growth forests. It was an excellent and challenging read and worth every moment. It will be in my top 5 reads for the year.
I read a non fiction book about the discovery of one of Caravaggio's paintings: The Lost Painting. A long time ago I was a wanna-be art history major so I love anything about art and this was a good detective piece about the art world and how a valuable painting was found.
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
Posts: 3,305
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Post by kibblesandbits on Nov 26, 2018 12:24:28 GMT
Finishing Where the Crawdads Sing. It's pretty good, kind of erratic, and suffers from a lack of critical editing - as do a lot of novels lately. Ugh. Details, people.
I have to re-read Station Eleven for book club, and I'm also reading Radical Acceptance
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scrappyesq
Pearl Clutcher
You have always been a part of the heist. You're only mad now because you don't like your cut.
Posts: 4,032
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Post by scrappyesq on Nov 26, 2018 14:06:26 GMT
My reading list for this week is the same as last week because I barely read at all. Becoming. by Michelle Obama. Well Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories Discovering Ourselves by Glory Edim. Tertiary by Raquel Salas Rivera. And another poetry collection Incendiary by Patricia Smith. Cowboy Seal Redemption by Nicole Helm. All of these are at the a few chapters in stage, but not close to being finished.
Hopefully this week will be comprised of actual reading. |
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Post by stingfan on Nov 26, 2018 16:53:38 GMT
Finished... The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain - I really liked this one. I had to accept some of the oddities of the time travel and just go with it though . The Girl Before by Rena Olsen - I read this for book group. I can't remember ever having read a book about human trafficking, so the subject was interesting and new to me. It made for a pretty good group discussion, too. Ghosted by Rosie Walsh - I had to go re-read the summary b/c I couldn't even remember this one. I thought I hadn't finished it, but I did. So I guess this isn't one I'd recommend.  Started... The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman |
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Post by lynnek on Nov 26, 2018 18:11:02 GMT
I read The Lost Man by Jane Harper. 5 stars, loved this one. She also wrote The Dry which I really liked and Force of Nature which missed the mark a bit for me. The Lost Man is her best yet, a stand alone not related to the Aaron Falk series. Jane perfectly captured the hot, dry outback. The mystery was very good, it builds towards the end with a few gasps.......Highly recommended! I keep seeing this mentioned. I don't think it is out in the US yet, but, boy, is it getting a lot of attention!! I can't wait to read it! |
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Post by lynnek on Nov 26, 2018 18:12:25 GMT
When We Were Worthy by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, 4 stars
The novel takes place in Worthy Georgia. One night, after a high school football game three cheerleaders die in a car accident and one survives. The driver of the other car is also a student at the same high school and he lives. I actually liked that there were no clear cut answers to who was at fault. It felt uncomfortable at times, very sad, BUT worth reading. If anything else, you see the story from all sides. Oh, I know I bought this at some point! Thanks for the heads up that I need to move this up the list. |
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Post by lynnek on Nov 26, 2018 18:41:14 GMT
I was able to read two this week.
At 500+ pages The Overstory is an ambitious book and almost like reading 3 novels in one. It begins with a group of short stories (I felt like this was the strongest section). In the middle section of the book, characters from the short stories begin to come together in a more traditional plot line. The ending was a bit more experimental and fell apart a bit for me. The over riding theme of the novel is trees and efforts to preserve old growth forests. It was an excellent and challenging read and worth every moment. It will be in my top 5 reads for the year.
I read a non fiction book about the discovery of one of Caravaggio's paintings: The Lost Painting. A long time ago I was a wanna-be art history major so I love anything about art and this was a good detective piece about the art world and how a valuable painting was found.
I have The Lost Painting and just need to read it. I added The Overstory to me list and searched Amazon and Audible and it is not on sale today. Just for anyone else who might be interested. |
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Post by belgravia on Nov 26, 2018 19:11:07 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread every week, Carey Ayn. I read two books. We had our family Thanksgiving today. Everything seemed like it took forever to fix, but in between cooking and baking, I managed to finish A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne. I couldn't put it down! Oh. My. Maurice is the character that you love to hate. The only other character I have ever read who comes close is Amy in Gone, Girl. But Maurice is actually worse. Yes, really. With that said, the book is amazing. I gasped out loud at least ten times. At least. That's some kind of record for me. You just can't believe that a person could be so evil. This was incredibly well-done. 5/5 stars. I also read A Long Road to Mercy by Baldacci. Atlee Pine, the a strong and sassy new MC, teams up with Carol Blum for all kinds of adventures. It's the perfect set up for more books to follow. And there's a bit of romance too. 4/5 stars. Lisa I loved A Ladder to the Sky as well! The first half was kind of a slow burn for me, and then I raced through the second half. Soooo good! |
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Post by lynnek on Nov 26, 2018 19:11:54 GMT
I finished The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya. This on just didn't connect for me.
I am currently reading The Air You Breathe and Then She Was Gone. November was my catch up on Book of the Month books and if I can get these last two finished this month, I will feel pretty good about my progress.
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Post by sues on Nov 26, 2018 20:44:45 GMT
I got about halfway through Anne of the Island (Green Gables bk 3)
while I was waiting for Dumplin' by Julie Murphy. I wanted to read Dumplin' before the movie comes out (Netflix, I think) on the 7th. I liked it a lot and I can't wait to see the movie. It's about a HS student and how she maneuvers through life as an overweight teenager in a small town, as the daughter of a former pageant queen. I liked that the author didn't take the easy way out for the storylines, the 'happily ever after' or turn the main character into a flawlessly articulate decision maker. There weren't villains - just characters who made good and bad decisions.
The end of the book had a sample of another Murphy book Side Effects May Vary, so I went to the library and grabbed that right away. It's about a HS student who unexpectedly gets a second chance at life and has to deal with everything she said and did in the months when she believed she was dying. Love the premise, and so far the book is good.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,677
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Post by Rhondito on Nov 26, 2018 21:30:28 GMT
I finally finished Panchinko, which most everyone loved but was only meh for me. I enjoyed maybe the first half of the book but once it got past Sunja and her sons I really didn't connect with any of the characters and I had to force myself to finish it. 3.5/5
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on Nov 26, 2018 21:37:40 GMT
I finished The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd, book #20 in their Ian Rutledge series. It was okay, I gave it three stars. I keep reading this series, but it's frustrating how the main character is so stuck in his post-war shell shock and the resulting isolation, and the authors never ever give him the slightest hope of a change or a real connection with another human.
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Post by ruralgirl on Nov 26, 2018 23:44:17 GMT
I managed to finish A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne. I couldn't put it down! Oh. My. Maurice is the character that you love to hate. The only other character I have ever read who comes close is Amy in Gone, Girl. But Maurice is actually worse. Yes, really. With that said, the book is amazing. I gasped out loud at least ten times. At least. That's some kind of record for me. You just can't believe that a person could be so evil. This was incredibly well-done. 5/5 stars. Going to add this to my list, thanks Me, too. I just downloaded the sample today. NicL, I think we may be on the same reading schedule. I just finished "The Stolen Marriage" and before that "Dream Daughter" (both by Diane Chamberlain). |
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Post by NicL on Nov 27, 2018 2:49:58 GMT
I read The Lost Man by Jane Harper. 5 stars, loved this one. She also wrote The Dry which I really liked and Force of Nature which missed the mark a bit for me. The Lost Man is her best yet, a stand alone not related to the Aaron Falk series. Jane perfectly captured the hot, dry outback. The mystery was very good, it builds towards the end with a few gasps.......Highly recommended! I keep seeing this mentioned. I don't think it is out in the US yet, but, boy, is it getting a lot of attention!! I can't wait to read it! Looks like it is out in February 2019. I didn't think there would be such a delay, sorry. It is worth the wait. |
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Post by NicL on Nov 27, 2018 3:00:38 GMT
Going to add this to my list, thanks Me, too. I just downloaded the sample today. NicL, I think we may be on the same reading schedule. I just finished "The Stolen Marriage" and before that "Dream Daughter" (both by Diane Chamberlain). That's funny! What are you reading now?
I'm reading the Extraordianry Life of Sam Hell. It's good
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Post by jackietex on Nov 27, 2018 3:57:42 GMT
I finished listening to The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant. I really enjoyed it--especially the narration by Linda Lavin. Now I'm listening to The Yokota Officers Club by Sarah Bird. I'm enjoying the story so far, but the narrator is a little annoying.
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Post by cawoman on Nov 27, 2018 5:18:52 GMT
I’m reading Light a Penny Candle by Maeve Benchy for book club. The member who picked the book for December brought her collection of books by this author (I like her a lot!). Each person selected a book to read. So next meeting we will all talk a little about the one we chose.
Everyone was excited about this little switch-up to our normal routine.
So far I’m enjoying the book. It’s an easy read but enjoying the characters!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 1, 2024 22:54:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2018 5:36:12 GMT
I got about halfway through Anne of the Island (Green Gables bk 3) while I was waiting for Dumplin' by Julie Murphy. I wanted to read Dumplin' before the movie comes out (Netflix, I think) on the 7th. I liked it a lot and I can't wait to see the movie. It's about a HS student and how she maneuvers through life as an overweight teenager in a small town, as the daughter of a former pageant queen. I liked that the author didn't take the easy way out for the storylines, the 'happily ever after' or turn the main character into a flawlessly articulate decision maker. There weren't villains - just characters who made good and bad decisions. The end of the book had a sample of another Murphy book Side Effects May Vary, so I went to the library and grabbed that right away. It's about a HS student who unexpectedly gets a second chance at life and has to deal with everything she said and did in the months when she believed she was dying. Love the premise, and so far the book is good. |
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Post by candygurl on Nov 27, 2018 13:36:01 GMT
I finished reading Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney. It was really good! A psychological thriller. The main character is an a coma and knows three things. She’s in a coma, her husband doesn’t love her anymore and that she lies. A must read!
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