The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,920 
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Feb 15, 2016 1:24:21 GMT
Hello Readers,
I read one book again this week: The Forgetting Time. It was an Amazon book of the month. It's about a man losing his memory and a woman and her four year old son. Noah knows things he shouldn't know at his age and he seems to remember what happened to him in a previous life. Can they help Noah? This is the premise.
I gave it 3/5. I think A LOT of people will give it a much higher, but it just didn't do it for me. I said it reminded me of a Nicholas Sparks book, but it's probably more like a Laine Moriarty book. They're good, but I just don't buy into them for some reason.
What did you read this week?
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Post by pjaye on Feb 15, 2016 3:07:52 GMT
This past week I finished listening to A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
It starts in 1953 with two 11yo boys and one accidentally kills the mother of the other. I have good friend who has been raving about this book for close to 20 years…and now I’m going to have to pretend I still haven’t read it yet because I didn’t like it at all. I generally don’t have a problem discussing books I didn’t like, but she just loved it so much I don’t have the heart to tell her I don’t feel the same way.
Firstly a lot of the book is about the young boys what they do and what they think and I have zero interest in any of that, secondly it has this weird religious undertone and I don’t like being ‘preached’ to in my books, I also thought the entire storyline and build up to the big ending was eye-roll worthy, and finally, Owen Meany was just an obnoxious little shit. It was only 2 out of 5 stars for me.
Then I moved on to Three Souls by Janie Chang. This is set in China in 1935 and starts after the death of the main character Leiyin, who is trying to work out why she has been denied entry to the afterlife. While she is waiting her 3 souls take her back to review her life to see where she needs to make amends in order to move on. It’s an interesting look at women in Chinese culture at that time as well as a look at their various beliefs regarding death and the afterlife. I really enjoyed this and gave it 4 stars.
Next I listened to The Illusionists by Rosie Thomas. This is set in Dickensian London in 1885 and is about the 5 people that make up the core of a band of theatre performers. This isn’t in the ‘magical reality’ genre though, it’s realistically set and shows the hard work, poverty, endless rehearsals etc that running a show like that would have taken. I really enjoyed the writing and the characters.
I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads, but if they had ½ stars it would have been 4.5. I’d recommend this one.
I’ve just started Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen, I see her books on reading threads a bit here, and I often enjoy the magical reality genre so I should enjoy this one. I also have the follow up First Frost which I’ll read straight after.
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Post by hollymolly on Feb 15, 2016 3:46:33 GMT
I finished Confessions of a Shopaholic and I didn't hate it, but I'm not sure I'll read the rest of the series. I already have Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and Shopaholic and Baby because I bought them all at the same book sale. I shouldn't have done that. I'll hold on to them for another year, but I think they're going to end up in my give-away bag. I just don't care for the main character at all.
Next I read a free short story on my Kindle by Barbara Delinsky called What She Really Wants. It was a nice little piece of Valentine fluff. I mostly just picked it up because I wanted to know the answer (what does she want?). It was just the right length story, short. I would have been annoyed if it had been one paragraph longer.
After that was a heavy book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It's been on my wish list for a long time, so when I found it at a used book store, I grabbed it and moved it to the front of my shelf. It's a dystopian novel about a religion-based patriarchal society were women are severely restricted. There has been a decline in birthrates, and women who have been proven fertile are forced to participate in monthly ceremonies within their assigned household in order to give the family a child. This is early enough in the society that the main character still has memories of her life before the new society was formed. The description of how it came to be was fascinating in light of our current political situation. It was a 4 star book for me, but not one I would want to read again.
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marianne
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys. . . My monkeys fly!
Posts: 4,176
Location: right smack dab in the middle of SC
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Jun 25, 2014 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by marianne on Feb 15, 2016 3:53:42 GMT
I read The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. It was a somewhat interesting read in terms of Chinese culture and the relationships between Chinese moms and daughters, but overall, I didn't find it anything to get all excited about. It was slow moving and angsty and a bit of a pain trying to keep the character relationships straight. I should probably just stick to my mysteries.  I'm also about 1/3 into Driftnet by Lin Anderson. A forensic scientist and her tangled personal life intertwines with the disturbing subject matter of pedophelia and murder. It's a first novel and so far I'm enjoying it. |
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by gottapeanow on Feb 15, 2016 4:10:00 GMT
I am slowly working through Gone with the Wind. Emphasis on 'slowly' as I am at 13 percent. Maybe I should have even added 'very.' My library books are in, so I will be picking up those on Tuesday. Looking forward to that. I will read them at the same time as GWTW. Lisa |
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Post by freecharlie on Feb 15, 2016 4:15:26 GMT
I read the latest Kathy Reichs novel.
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Deleted
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May 4, 2024 20:40:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2016 12:07:30 GMT
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tuesdaysgone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,832
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Post by tuesdaysgone on Feb 15, 2016 12:30:18 GMT
I read After Alice by Maguire. People either love or hate this author and I'm one who loves him. This novel focuses on what happens with Alice's family and friends after she has disappeared down the hole. In alternate chapters you follow one her friends who has also fallen into Wonderland and is trying to find Alice. One of the reasons I loved this novel is because it is filled with clever word play, puns, and literary allusions. I really enjoyed the language. It's amusing to read the Amazon reviews on this book; they are not neutral!
I also finished Countdown City, the 2nd book in The Last Policeman series. So glad I discovered this series from this thread!
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on Feb 15, 2016 14:51:28 GMT
I did not manage to finish any books last week, but I re-read a little bit of P.G. Wodehouse (the Jeeves stories) for fun and am also reading What Matters in Jane Austen? by John Mullan, which is about twenty different themes that come out in her books. It's a lighter read than it sounds.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
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Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Feb 15, 2016 15:31:29 GMT
I am reading the Martian by Andy Weir. I'm at almost 60%. It's good but I don't find the characters on Earth that interesting. Also, the book needs photos so I know what all these space things look like. I guess that's why there is a movie...
Also I probably missed the explanation, but why can't he grow more potatoes after the first crop is ripe?
Otherwise it's a pretty good book.
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Post by kellybelly77 on Feb 15, 2016 16:33:08 GMT
Only one for me this week. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. Reminiscant of Gone Girl. I liked both books but found the characters to be very unlikeable. There was just no one to root for! The mom was annoying, the sister was bitchy, Mia and Colin were shady, the dad was an a**hole. I think that is part of the appeal maybe?! You just don't see some of the stuff coming so it sneaks up on you in surprise to make you keep reading?! Anyway, I gave it 4 stars.
I noticed today that I have read 9 books, and am halfway through 10, out of my reading goal of 40 books this year. I have made it 1/4 of the way through my yearly goal in 6 weeks.... Maybe I should raise it? Or maybe I should leave it and then blow it out of the water!
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Post by debmast on Feb 15, 2016 16:37:16 GMT
I am presently reading Beloved by Toni Morrison.
However, DD's high school soccer season is putting a wedge in my reading time. Luckily I love to watch her play.
Hoping to get this book finished up this week
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Post by kckckc on Feb 15, 2016 16:59:36 GMT
I have finished 4 books in the last couple of weeks.
Dark Blood by Stuart MacBride. Another in the Logan McRae mystery series. This series is set in Scotland - I am enjoying them.
H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald. This one won several awards and has had a lot of good buzz. The author's father died and she dealt with it by training a hawk. I think some introspection is a good thing, but this felt rather self-indulgent. The story of her grief is intertwined with a semi-biography of T.H. White (author of The Once and Future King). I wouldn't recommend this one.
The Mare by Mary Gaitskill. Velveteen is sent through the Fresh Air program from her home in Brooklyn to upstate New York. A relationship develops between Velveteen, her host mother, and a horse Velveteen learns to ride during her time in the program. The story is told from several voices - I think the author did a good job with that. I liked this one.
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo. This is the follow-up book to The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. There is not a lot of new information in the book - some detailed pictures of how to fold your clothes and some storage hints. Worth a library read, but not a purchase if you have read the first book.
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Post by leannec on Feb 15, 2016 17:23:05 GMT
I was supposed to be reading the book for my Book Club that will be meeting at my house on Friday but instead I was engrossed in Finding Me by Michelle Knight ... She is one of the women who were kidnapped by Ariel Castro in Ohio a few years ago and held hostage for more than ten years ... it was an autobiography that I couldn't put down ... her experience was horrific  So this week I need to get down to business and read the Book Club book ... Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave |
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Post by ExpatBackHome on Feb 15, 2016 17:33:59 GMT
I'm half way through "whistleblower" by Tess Gerritsen and it's really kept my attention so far. I would recommend it.
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Post by jackie on Feb 15, 2016 17:40:32 GMT
The only book I finished this week was The Memory Box by Eve Nesko Atiello. I didn't love this one. I did love the premise of it--a woman who after googling herself for fun finds out all kinds of things about her life that she doesn't remember and feels couldn't possibly be true. She continues digging to discover what is going on. I didn't really care for the main characters. I thought they behaved in strange and unlikely ways, from the protagonist to her husband to her psychiatrist. I didn't really like any of the characters and felt like the husband was completely undeveloped--a cardboard cut-out of a character. Something about the whole storytelling felt sort of juvenile to me. I just can't describe it. I was rather disappointed. I'd give it maybe a 2.5 based on some good ideas that never came to fruition. I'm still reading The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes. This one is for my friend book club. I'm really loving this book, which as mentioned before is a story involving a time traveling serial killer and the potential victim who is trying to track him down. I love this one so far and am almost halfway through. The characters are well-developed. There are people to really root for and villains to really hate. The shifting all over the place in time can sometimes get a tad confusing (I actually started taking notes!) but that's okay, it's not that and it's worth it. I'm also still listening to The Lake House by Kate Morton. This one is really good too. Her stuff almost is. I love the mystery, the setting, the characters, everything. The story flips back in forth between the 1930s (or roundabout there) where a child disappeared from a beautiful idyllic setting, and modern time where a female police officer on leave becomes caught up by the abandoned house and the mystery. Good stuff! That is a very grim book. It was very good, but hard to read at times. I also watched the movie, which I thought was quite good. It had a lot of stars in it (Natasha Richardson , Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth McGovern, and Aidan Quinn). I remember liking it. I read the book long ago and it's been even longer for the movie. I know what you mean. I think the police detective was the only person I liked at all. The mom, I at least felt some sympathy for, but yeah, not totally likable for sure. I thought Gone Girl was much better. Darn, I'm bummed to hear about this one. I recently joined a book club at the library and that's our current selection. I haven't started it yet. It doesn't look like my kind of book but I was hoping it would be really good. Doesn't sound like it. |
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Post by kckckc on Feb 15, 2016 19:48:41 GMT
Darn, I'm bummed to hear about this one. I recently joined a book club at the library and that's our current selection. I haven't started it yet. It doesn't look like my kind of book but I was hoping it would be really good. Doesn't sound like it. Don't let me scare you off - lots of people really loved it. A lot of the writing is very poetic/beautiful, and I learned a lot - about hawks, falconry, and T.H. White. Hopefully you will enjoy it more than I did. |
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Post by annabella on Feb 15, 2016 20:10:34 GMT
leannec after I read her book I had to read the other girls' book to get the full story. You know the two girls don't speak to Michelle now. Then I made a donation to their fund which I finally realized was why she kept mentioning it in the book. When I see all the acclaim for the movie Room it just feels weird, as if an author took someone's horrible story and fictionalized it to be a bestseller. Right now I'm reading My Fight / Your Fight by Ronda Rousey. I only heard about her last fall, had never watched any of her matches. The book is very inspiring as I read about how driven she is. I've since gone online to check out videos on her in the ring to see the stories she talks about.
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~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
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Post by ~Lauren~ on Feb 15, 2016 20:59:37 GMT
I read three books this week: A Brother Cadfael mystery by Ellis Peters (brother Cadfael is a detective monk in the 14th century); Stranger Child by Rachel Abbot (this is the story of a little girl who goes missing and returns 7 years later. Very good read) and the Japanese Lover by Isabelle Allende. This last book was excellent and weaves the story of a Jewish girl who comes to California from Poland just before Hitler and the son of a Japanese gardener on the estate of her wealthy California family. I highly recommend it.
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Post by smokeynspike on Feb 15, 2016 22:02:00 GMT
I finally finished How to Be Single by Liz Tuccillo. I really found myself becoming more and more invested in the story as the novel progressed, even as I didn't have a lot of time or energy for reading this week. I'm slightly bummed that they decided to change a bunch of stuff for the movie (character names aren't even the same!) so I guess we will see how that is when I see it finally.
I started The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey. It is the second book in the 5th Wave series. Pretty good so far.
Melissa |
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on Feb 15, 2016 23:43:29 GMT
leannec after I read her book I had to read the other girls' book to get the full story. You know the two girls don't speak to Michelle now. Then I made a donation to their fund which I finally realized was why she kept mentioning it in the book. When I see all the acclaim for the movie Room it just feels weird, as if an author took someone's horrible story and fictionalized it to be a bestseller. Right now I'm reading My Fight / Your Fight by Ronda Rousey. I only heard about her last fall, had never watched any of her matches. The book is very inspiring as I read about how driven she is. I've since gone online to check out videos on her in the ring to see the stories she talks about. Room is loosely based on a true story, the Fritzl family from Austria. |
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Post by fotos4u2 on Feb 15, 2016 23:46:55 GMT
Sadly I didn't finish anything this week. It's been a very hard week personally with my mom having surgery for what she thought was a benign mass on her ovary and ended up finding cancer in the mass as well as part of her stomach. Then my uncle died unexpectedly on Thursday. (2016 has not been a good year for our family!)
I'm still reading Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler which is starting to get good.
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
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Post by luckyexwife on Feb 15, 2016 23:47:44 GMT
I read three books this week: A Brother Cadfael mystery by Ellis Peters (brother Cadfael is a detective monk in the 14th century); Stranger Child by Rachel Abbot (this is the story of a little girl who goes missing and returns 7 years later. Very good read) and the Japanese Lover by Isabelle Allende. This last book was excellent and weaves the story of a Jewish girl who comes to California from Poland just before Hitler and the son of a Japanese gardener on the estate of her wealthy California family. I highly recommend it. I am a huge Rachel Abbott fan. Did you know there is a novella that follows up on Tasha? It is Nowhere Child. |
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Feb 16, 2016 0:01:13 GMT
I am reading the Martian by Andy Weir. I'm at almost 60%. It's good but I don't find the characters on Earth that interesting. Also, the book needs photos so I know what all these space things look like. I guess that's why there is a movie... Also I probably missed the explanation, but why can't he grow more potatoes after the first crop is ripe? Otherwise it's a pretty good book. In the movie, he creates a controlled environment in which to grow the potatoes. There was a blow out and the potatoes froze. |
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Feb 16, 2016 0:07:45 GMT
Only one this week for English. It is a Sci-Fi/Fantasy class.
The Bone Doll's Twin by Lynn Flewelling. I probably butchered the last name. It was slow. But, interesting. So, it kept my attention. Apparently, I was supposed to be horror struck by the twist in the plot. The twist is what made it interesting, even if it was distasteful.
I did like it until the end. It appeared as if the character I liked was killed. I was devastated. I still feel resentment even though I discovered he did not die.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2016 0:12:07 GMT
I just finished "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star by Jenna Jameson....don't laugh....I was pleasantly surprised at what a frank and honest story of what the adult entertainment industry is like and her story as a survivor. I also finished Envy the Night by Michael Koryta this week and was disappointed. I've read two other of his books and loved them, but this one left me flat. It was his first book and didn't have the supernatural overtones that the other two I read had, so that may be why I didn't like it as much as the other two. I just started The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell.....I need to get caught up with my Dr. Kay Scarpetta books. |
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MsKnit
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 19:06:42 GMT
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Post by MsKnit on Feb 16, 2016 0:26:34 GMT
After that was a heavy book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It's been on my wish list for a long time, so when I found it at a used book store, I grabbed it and moved it to the front of my shelf. It's a dystopian novel about a religion-based patriarchal society were women are severely restricted. There has been a decline in birthrates, and women who have been proven fertile are forced to participate in monthly ceremonies within their assigned household in order to give the family a child. This is early enough in the society that the main character still has memories of her life before the new society was formed. The description of how it came to be was fascinating in light of our current political situation. It was a 4 star book for me, but not one I would want to read again. This one is next. I want to read it before it is presented in class. I am considering writing the last paper in that class on Cormac McCarthy's The Road. |
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Post by jackie on Feb 16, 2016 0:43:48 GMT
That's definitely not what happened--at least not to their story. Room was published in 2010, the three girls Castro kidnapped weren't discovered until 2013.
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Post by annabella on Feb 16, 2016 1:48:22 GMT
That's definitely not what happened--at least not to their story. Room was published in 2010, the three girls Castro kidnapped weren't discovered until 2013. I didn't say that, I said "someone", those 3 women are not the only people held captive for a long period of time. |
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mimima
Drama Llama
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Posts: 5,017
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Post by mimima on Feb 16, 2016 2:10:38 GMT
I read *Master of Petersburg * by J M Coetzee. It was about Dostoevsky returning to St. Petersburg after his step-son's death. The story was ok, but it definitely was a meditation on art, love, death, Russia, books. I enjoyed those thoughts.
I finished *Map of Time * by Felix Palma. I didn't like it very much
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My original pea date was November 1999 and my number was 1803
