luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,069
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Jul 14, 2014 22:02:52 GMT
Two for me this week. The first was The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. Not my favorite of hers but I enjoyed it. She's a solid women's fiction writer in my view. Someone you can count on for a good story. The second was The Commitment by Dan Savage. Although I'm familiar with his work in a general way this is the first I've actually read. He's funny. This one was right up my alley as he writes about his relationship with his male partner and their adopted son. This book was all about their struggle to decide whether to marry. I found lots of common ground here (with the exception of what sounds like their stellar sex life) as they are a seemingly traditional family with young children and one parent working outside the home while one stays home with children. My wife and I are in the same boat, so his thoughts on this dynamic were interesting to me. I love Elin Hildebrand and loved The Castaways. I am so excited because she will be at a book signing in Rehobeth this summer and we will be at the beach so I can go! There will be other authors during our stay (we go for a month) so I may have to go to more book signings. That's funny, I just finished The Castaways last night. I've read one of her other books, and I really liked it. The Castaways was good, but not as good as the first one I read. I just started The Love Season, another of her books. I like it so far, it got me hooked from the beginning. I would love to go to a book signing of hers!
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,298
Member is Online
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jul 14, 2014 23:38:36 GMT
I am reading The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain. She's one of my favorites but I feel like I already have the twists pegged for this story, and I'm only about 40% through. I hope I am wrong because I do love a good, unforseen twist... I also just started Still Life With Breadcrumbs. Has anyone read this? I can't decide if I am enjoying it or its not moving along fast enough. lol All reviews I read don't really answer much for me. I have only read about 20% of the story though so perhaps I should keep plugging away... I can't remember why I added it to my pile "to read" so I am wondering if I saw a recommendation here a few weeks ago. Let me know! I am an Anna Quindlen fan, but gave up on that one. Life's too short. Thanks for the input!
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,292
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Jul 15, 2014 0:37:54 GMT
I read The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand this week. It was easy enough, but she's written better books.
I now have two on the go: the final Tales of the City book by Armistead Maupin The Days of Anna Madrigal, and Under a Silent Moon, which is an excellent police procedural by Elizabeth Haynes. I'm really enjoying both of these.
ETA I can't believe three of us have all read this 4-year-old book in the same week!
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Post by NicL on Jul 15, 2014 11:32:34 GMT
I am an Anna Quindlen fan, but gave up on that one. Life's too short. Thanks for the input! I gave up on it too, it just moved too slowly for me.
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Post by marie on Jul 15, 2014 23:24:21 GMT
All my titles this week were recent Kindle Daily Deal specials. The Professor & the Madman: the tale of murder, insanity & the making of the Oxford English Dictionary (Winchester) Strange but fascinating biography of two men who created/worked on the OED. I'm a librarian and nerd, so I enjoyed it very much. An amazing true story. My book club read this and we all agreed it was an intriguing story.
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Post by marie on Jul 15, 2014 23:35:13 GMT
I just started The Silkworm. I think I am one of the only people with no interest in Harry Potter but I like this new series hers. The author can be a bit wordy, but I like the main character Strike.
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Post by mnmloveli on Jul 16, 2014 0:14:15 GMT
Just finishing Guilty Innocence by Maggie James. Was free on Kindle and very good. A boy convicted of a terrible crime at age 11 gets out of prison and tries to find his way in life and somehow make amends to the family. Definitely worth reading. Really moved along; no boring parts.
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imsirius
Prolific Pea
Call it as I see it.
Posts: 7,661
Location: Floating in the black veil.
Jul 12, 2014 19:59:28 GMT
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Post by imsirius on Jul 16, 2014 0:21:09 GMT
I just started The Silkworm. I think I am one of the only people with no interest in Harry Potter but I like this new series hers. The author can be a bit wordy, but I like the main character Strike. I like her writing as Galbraith, but she wrote the Harry Potter series much better in my humble opinion. Have you tried to read HP or just no interest whatsoever? Just wondering, because I was very reluctant in the beginning too, and, well, look at my user name and avatar now..lol
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Post by originalvanillabean on Jul 16, 2014 0:21:39 GMT
Not reading anything but stopping in to get some suggestions for when it slows down.
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Post by sues on Jul 16, 2014 0:46:39 GMT
I finished Most Talkative by Andy Cohen. I liked it. He writes like he speaks- and the insight into the Housewives series in the second half of the book was interesting.
I read Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos. I liked the book overall, but for as many times as she says "I'm not trying to say I did everything right" - she often comes off like a first time parent who just NAILED IT, even under difficult circumstances. We let her take her own power, we let her decide, we honored her past...blah blah blah. Not that what they did was without merit- I think they did a great job. But I grew really weary of the stuff that sounded like she was pulling it from parenting books. Sometimes that kid sounded like a flaming brat, but she was saying "Everyone adored her and admired her spirit!" Yeah- I bet. The back story on her and her husband, the people they met and became friends with, their work and home life, etc. - I loved those parts. It was a mostly interesting, quick read. I'd advise skimming the fawning parenting stuff.
I read Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim - which I also liked. The reviews called it 'hilarious' and I don't really agree with that. It was interesting though, sometimes amusing, sometimes heartbreaking. A lot of times, the quoted dialogue made me think 'really?' Especially from when she was very young. People- especially little kids- just don't talk like that. It sounded like a script. The behind the scenes stuff about Little House was interesting. I like that she didn't bash anyone. Even about Melissa Sue Anderson- who nobody seemed to connect with - she didn't go overboard dissing. She was pretty funny when she talked about her though.
I started Worthy (How to Stop Hating Yourself) by Anneli Rufus. My sister recommended it- though she said there were parts she skimmed for wordiness. It's all about how bad self image/low self esteem/feeling unworthy gets started, how some people are more inclined to get sucked into it and how to get yourself out of it. It's interesting so far.
Finally, I started The Starter Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer. I've had it on my book shelf for a long time. I never saw the mini series, though it looked interesting. I wanted to read the book first. But about 50 or 60 pages in- I'm bored. The Hollywood mocking got old inside of ten pages but it doesn't seem to stop. I don't know if it's too early to give up. Anyone read this one? Should I bother pushing on?
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Post by Erica on Jul 16, 2014 0:59:21 GMT
I just finished reading "Under my Skin" by Mary Higgins Clark. I didn't enjoy it, but forced myself to finish it. I am starting to feel like I am reading mad libs now.
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Post by worrywart on Jul 16, 2014 3:58:11 GMT
I used to really like Mary Higgins Clark many years ago.
I just started a strange book called The Bird Box. I'm not even sure what it is about yet, I am only about 20 pages in and it has gotten my attention so far. I had it on hold but I can't remember why or where I heard about it.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Jul 16, 2014 7:47:05 GMT
Making History by Stephen Fry Fast moving, smart, and imaginative 4 out of 5
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius Dave Eggars I loved his fun, honest, stream of consciousness writing. There are truths in there I have not seen anyone else brave enough to admit. 4/5
Hoe Evan Broke his Head and Other Secrets Garth Stein, Very sweet readable story. 4/5
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Post by PEArfect on Jul 16, 2014 8:29:40 GMT
I just finished reading Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. I enjoyed it. Now I'm wondering if I should see the movie. The books are always better.
I'm adding some of the books mentioned to my 'to read' list. I need to decide which I'll read next.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 28, 2024 18:13:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2014 11:52:19 GMT
I read The Bone Yardby Michelle Gagnon, a predictable FBI thriller. I picked out the murderer in the first chapter, and the rest was yawn.
House Reckoningby Mike Lawson was pretty good. It's the first book I've read about the Joe DeMarco character, but the 10th in the series. It was a good one to start with, because it gives his entire backstory. I'll read more.
A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black was terrific. His writing is outstandingly Irish in the best tradition. The characters are very flawed, the story is dark but not too gory. I love the 1950s Dublin setting. Benjamin Black is the pen name of John Banville.
I'm looking for some more murder mystery series. I like it when I discover a new (to me) author who has a lots of books in a series -- I get to binge read through the summer.
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Post by sues on Jul 16, 2014 16:03:58 GMT
I found a book last night at my library's e-book site that I'm really enjoying, so I want to add it here.
It's a YA book called "The Beginning of Everything" by Robyn Schneider. It's about a SoCal high school jock/golden boy whose life is taken abruptly off track. The story follows how things change; family, friends, aspirations. He comes to believe that everyone has a point in their lives- often a tragedy- that sets the course for the rest of their lives.
The characters are terrific, the dialogue is great, the story really grabs you. I love the writer's style. The review said 'If you like John Green...' -and I tend to agree. They share many similarities.
I'm more than halfway through the book already. I hope the ending doesn't change my mind- but I really like it so far.
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Post by not2peased on Jul 16, 2014 16:35:13 GMT
I have been on a reading tear lately
Horns by Joe Hill-really liked it, very different story. dark, but excellent writing Mr.Mercedes by Stephen King-about 10% into it-enjoying it so far The Fault In Our Stars-really enjoyed it Divergent 1&2-liked 1 better, but two was good War Brides-I liked it-would consider it a good beach read Defending Jacob-late to the party with this one, but I really liked it
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,300
Jun 25, 2014 19:53:37 GMT
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Post by Mystie on Jul 16, 2014 17:43:03 GMT
I'm coming in late, but add me to the list of Peas who read The Castaways this week! I wanted to try an Erin Hildebrand book, and now I have and don't need to again. LOL. It was okay, but I could not relate to any of the characters or the storyline. I read a few other Pea recommendations this past week, too. The Vanishing by Wendy Webb was a fun ghost/romance story, and I also read Webb's book The Tale of Halycon Crane, which I thought was a little better than The Vanishing. Webb's books remind me of the kind of stuff Barbara Michaels used to write back in the day. Someone recommended Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta last week, and I really enjoyed that. It's a survival-type thriller about a teenage boy who is being stalked by killers in the wilds of Wyoming. And I read Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke, another spooky read. It's about a mother who is snowbound with her adopted teenage daughter on Christmas Day, and who begins to suspect there is something terribly wrong with her daughter. This book has mixed reviews on Amazon and GoodReads, but I thought it was fantastic and very haunting.
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gina
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Posts: 3,298
Member is Online
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jul 16, 2014 18:11:16 GMT
I found a book last night at my library's e-book site that I'm really enjoying, so I want to add it here. It's a YA book called "The Beginning of Everything" by Robyn Schneider. It's about a SoCal high school jock/golden boy whose life is taken abruptly off track. The story follows how things change; family, friends, aspirations. He comes to believe that everyone has a point in their lives- often a tragedy- that sets the course for the rest of their lives. The characters are terrific, the dialogue is great, the story really grabs you. I love the writer's style. The review said 'If you like John Green...' -and I tend to agree. They share many similarities. I'm more than halfway through the book already. I hope the ending doesn't change my mind- but I really like it so far. I just added my name to the e-library's wait-list ~ thanks!
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 1:59:16 GMT
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Post by gina on Jul 16, 2014 18:12:16 GMT
Someone recommended Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta last week, and I really enjoyed that. It's a survival-type thriller about a teenage boy who is being stalked by killers in the wilds of Wyoming. oooh, oooh, that was me! Glad you enjoyed it!
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Post by birukitty on Jul 16, 2014 20:20:07 GMT
Remember when I said Amazon was sending me Book 3 of the Outlander series "Voyager"-a lovely hardback? Well it arrived on my porch with a mangled and bent book jacket. Argh! I have to send it back (don't want to keep it like that) and now I have to wait 2 more days to find out what happened to Jamie in the series. At least they are replacing it and sending UPS to pick it up on my porch with no cost to me.
I read every night before going to sleep. I have to read then. So I picked up a book I got in the bargain section at our local Barnes and Noble. I've been wanting to read this one for a long time. It feels so thin to me compared to the "Outlander" books. Anyway it's called, " The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz" by Denis Avey. It's a non fiction book and is the true story of a British soldier who swapped his uniform with a Dutch Jewish Auschwitz inmate so he could go INTO Auschwitz and witness the horrors for himself. I've just started it so I don't know why he would do it, but it sounds like a fascinating book. I'll read it quickly and then pick up "Voyager" when I'm done. I can't read two books at once and certainly not two this different.
Debbie in MD.
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Montannie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,486
Location: Big Sky Country
Jun 25, 2014 20:32:35 GMT
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Post by Montannie on Jul 16, 2014 21:46:32 GMT
I just finished reading Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. I enjoyed it. Now I'm wondering if I should see the movie. The books are always better. I'm adding some of the books mentioned to my 'to read' list. I need to decide which I'll read next. Unless you can see it for free, don't spend the money. Book was much, much better, IMO.
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Post by marie on Jul 16, 2014 22:44:48 GMT
I just started The Silkworm. I think I am one of the only people with no interest in Harry Potter but I like this new series hers. The author can be a bit wordy, but I like the main character Strike. I like her writing as Galbraith, but she wrote the Harry Potter series much better in my humble opinion. Have you tried to read HP or just no interest whatsoever? Just wondering, because I was very reluctant in the beginning too, and, well, look at my user name and avatar now..lol I tried reading the first HP book years ago when it was first out. I don't care for fantasy type books and it didn't hold my attention. But maybe I should give the series another try?
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Post by marie on Jul 16, 2014 22:58:16 GMT
I also just started a non-fiction book Happiness is a Habit : simple daily rituals that increase energy, improve well-being and add joy to every day. I've only read the intro so I don't know if it will have any practical advice.
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Post by birukitty on Jul 16, 2014 23:04:09 GMT
Wow I am SHOCKED at the customer service from Amazon. I wrote above about what happened yesterday when I received my order from Amazon of my hardcover copy of "Voyager". The book cover was all mangled and bent and this was at 6:00 pm. I sat down wrote a quick email to Amazon on their return service and they told me to put the book back in the package and leave it on my porch for the UPS guy to pick up today.
Well, not only did the UPS guy pick up the damaged copy today, he brought me a brand new copy of "Voyager" all brand spanking new! In less than 24 hours! How is that for customer service? I am a Prime member but that is still amazing to me! I thought I'd have to wait at least 2 more days. Yipppee!!
Debbie in MD.
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linda~lou
Pearl Clutcher
Keep calm and eat crumpets
Posts: 2,744
Location: Motown but my heart is in San Francisco
Jun 25, 2014 21:57:08 GMT
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Post by linda~lou on Jul 16, 2014 23:45:24 GMT
I Amazon! Yay for you!
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Post by MommyofTriplets on Jul 17, 2014 1:37:58 GMT
I still reading The Natural Order of Things - it's dark and depressing and I'm loving it - but I had to come back to the thread because a new character named Batya Pinter was just introduced! I miss Batya! The Batya in my book is pretty messed up though.
Had to share!
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Post by honeyb on Jul 17, 2014 4:25:26 GMT
Two for me this week. The first was The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand. Not my favorite of hers but I enjoyed it. She's a solid women's fiction writer in my view. Someone you can count on for a good story. The second was The Commitment by Dan Savage. Although I'm familiar with his work in a general way this is the first I've actually read. He's funny. This one was right up my alley as he writes about his relationship with his male partner and their adopted son. This book was all about their struggle to decide whether to marry. I found lots of common ground here (with the exception of what sounds like their stellar sex life) as they are a seemingly traditional family with young children and one parent working outside the home while one stays home with children. My wife and I are in the same boat, so his thoughts on this dynamic were interesting to me. I love Elin Hildebrand and loved The Castaways. I am so excited because she will be at a book signing in Rehobeth this summer and we will be at the beach so I can go! There will be other authors during our stay (we go for a month) so I may have to go to more book signings. I also love Elin Hilderbrand. I will agree that The Castaways was not one of my favorites. I just finished her newest book, The Matchmaker, and really liked it. I would highly recommend it. I am currently reading All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner and am really liking that one too.
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linda~lou
Pearl Clutcher
Keep calm and eat crumpets
Posts: 2,744
Location: Motown but my heart is in San Francisco
Jun 25, 2014 21:57:08 GMT
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Post by linda~lou on Jul 17, 2014 7:53:31 GMT
I just started Outlander. I'm not loving it. I love historical novels but this just isn't grabbing me. Tell me to stick with it. When I think I have 8 more novels to read at 600 pages plus, I'm a little overwhelmed. Just finished All the Light We Cannot See and that's a tough act to follow.
I wanted to read at least the first book before the series started on Starz. But I've got Jojo Moyes books on my Kindle and I'm ready to ditch Outlander for one of Jojo's. Tell me I need to stick with Outlander! I really want to keep reading. Claire is back in time, met Jamie, I get all that. Tell me to keep going.
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Post by heartland on Jul 17, 2014 17:18:40 GMT
I just started Outlander. I'm not loving it. I love historical novels but this just isn't grabbing me. Tell me to stick with it. When I think I have 8 more novels to read at 600 pages plus, I'm a little overwhelmed. Just finished All the Light We Cannot See and that's a tough act to follow. I wanted to read at least the first book before the series started on Starz. But I've got Jojo Moyes books on my Kindle and I'm ready to ditch Outlander for one of Jojo's. Tell me I need to stick with Outlander! I really want to keep reading. Claire is back in time, met Jamie, I get all that. Tell me to keep going. Keep going. I listened to it on audio book because I knew it was a bear of a book and wasn't sure I'd be able to slog my way through. The first couple chapters were really hard for me to even "listen" too lol... I kept thinking what on earth is the big deal with this book? I can't even tell you when, but suddenly it clicked for me and I was rushing to get out to the car everyday so I could continue the story.
Now its' been about a month since I finished that, and I'm having trouble finding the audio version of the next book. grrr...
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