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Post by lynnek on Apr 18, 2016 17:12:22 GMT
Last week I finished Strange But True by John Searles. About two years ago now, I saw a post from a publisher on Facebook that John Searles was looking for a book club in each of the 50 states to meet with and discuss his newest book, Help For The Haunted. I thought that sounded fun so I entered and lo and behold won for my state. Honestly, that book was only ok, but I really, really loved the chance to talk to an author and get into his head about his writing and story creating process. As a perk of being a part of that he sent a huge box of books that were his favorites of other authors and copies of his first two books for everyone in the book club. So, I finally got around to reading one of his other books. I actually liked this one better. It is about a high school couple who get in an accident on their way home from prom. The boy dies and the girl is disfigured. The book follows the girl and the boy's family as they try to go on. It is much more than that but that is the basis anyway.
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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
Site Supporter
Jun 25, 2014 21:08:26 GMT
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Post by marianne on Apr 18, 2016 18:36:04 GMT
I finished The Malcontenta by Barry Maitland, a cheapie from Amazon. A British detective/Scotland Yard mystery series, I enjoyed it in spite of the stinky editing.
Every once and awhile I like to deviate from my usual genre and try another so I'm debating whether to read Wuthering Heights next or something else .
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Post by kckckc on Apr 18, 2016 19:19:39 GMT
I finished Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan. A multi-generational story that touches on family, love, country and sacrifice - it is set in Taiwan beginning soon after WWII and ending in 2003. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I knew nothing about the history of Taiwan. At first, I had a little trouble following the political issues that came up in this book and ended up reading a bit online about Taiwan's history. All in all, an excellent story and I learned a lot.
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Post by shescrafty on Apr 18, 2016 19:24:43 GMT
Friends and I just started a book club and the book I chose was Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain, I haven't read any of her books but it looked interesting and got good reviews, My friend invited me to her book club this month and I had already read the. The House We Grew Up In, but I want to redhead it to freshen up. I liked it the first time so will start rereading that one shortly. I enjoyed Necessary Lies and think it would be a great book club selection. Lots to talk about. Thank you! My best friends reads a TON of modern romance novels and we tease each other about what we read since I cannot stand them. When she got the book for book club she said, "it doesn't even had the word lovers in the synopsis one time! " lol
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 18, 2016 19:31:30 GMT
I have recently read Anne of Ingleside the 6th book in the Anne of Green Gables series. It was an okay, pleasant read. A bit boring at times. I read the Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I really like historical fiction, especially WWII. I have read much better, but it wasn't horrible. I'll give it 3 stars.
I just started Harry Potter for the umpteenth time. I'm making myself finish because my kid has been obsessed with these books forever. This may or may not backfire on me.
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Post by AussieMeg on Apr 19, 2016 0:25:42 GMT
And AussieMeg won't post now because I've scared her off with my "fancy reading" Haha! Maybe I’ll pull out my copy of Macbeth or Wuthering Heights from Year 12 English Lit to read next! Last night I finished the 3rd DI Kim Stone novel by Angela Marsons. I am loving her books, and I can’t wait for the 4th one to come out in May. If anyone likes crime fiction I highly recommend Angela Marsons. I’ve read one book a week for the last 4 weeks (Marian Keyes and the 3 Angela Marsons book), that’s pretty good for me. Usually it takes me several weeks to get through a book because I only read a chapter or 2 each night. I have loved these books so I’ve even been getting up earlier each morning to read before getting ready for work.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,648
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Apr 19, 2016 13:52:44 GMT
I recently read SALT TO THE SEA, which was a young adult novel about the ship Gustloff, that sank as Germany was trying to evacuate wounded soldiers, and civilians--many of whom were children. It was very well done. I liked it. I read this recently and liked it. I like that this book, along with Between Shades of Grey, tell stories that you don't often find in WWII literature. The book What She Knew - Gilly Macmillian was so good! I'm reading this now! So far so good - glad you liked it. I've got two books going right now: Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein. If you're a mom of a teen or young daughter, check it out. Lie in Plain Sight by Maggie Barbieri. This is part of a thriller/mystery series centering around a single mom and bakery owner. I'm interested in Girls & Sex - I've heard the author on several podcasts and the interviews were very interesting. I read: The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota. 4.5/5 stars. This is what I wrote on Goodreads: The Year of the Runaways reminded me of A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry and the nonfiction Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo in its unflinching look at life in India. Three young men find their situations in India deteriorating (with varying levels of sympathy from the reader) and through various means make their way to England in search of a better life. They arrive full of optimism and a willingness to work, expecting to make decent money and provide for themselves and their families back home, but slowly their hopes and dreams erode until they find themselves in dire situations. Their lives in India ranged from unpromising to dire, but their lives in England are even more bleak and dismal. We get a different perspective from a young Sikh woman living in England who is a "visa-wife" for one of the men. She's not desperate for a job, meal, or place to sleep like the men, but has her own struggles with her faith, the strict confines of her life, and what is expected of a woman in her culture. The book is set in 2003, but is obviously very relevant to today and although it was depressing, it was an illuminating look at the character's lives. The writing feels very authentic; there are a lot of Panjabi/Hindi words used liberally throughout and I was hungry for roti while reading. I would give this 4.5 stars. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman. 3/5 stars. I really liked his book A Man Called Ove and was looking forward to this one, but I only found it so so. I liked the characters and learning their stories, but didn't like the extensive fairy take storyline. His next book coming out takes a character from this book and continues her story and I plan to read it - I think it will be better.
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Post by lynnek on Apr 19, 2016 15:59:43 GMT
I enjoyed Necessary Lies and think it would be a great book club selection. Lots to talk about. Thank you! My best friends reads a TON of modern romance novels and we tease each other about what we read since I cannot stand them. When she got the book for book club she said, "it doesn't even had the word lovers in the synopsis one time! " lol I think this is a good middle ground between super easy just fluff read and something more "intellectual". It is an easy read but there is some meat to it.
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Post by pjaye on Apr 19, 2016 16:05:52 GMT
Last night I finished the 3rd DI Kim Stone novel by Angela Marsons. My mother reads a lot of crime books, I'll have to ask her of she's read any of these and will suggest them to her if she hasn't.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 30, 2024 8:16:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2016 17:57:39 GMT
I finished The Ridge by Michael Koryta. This is the 5th book of his I've read and I enjoyed it. I like his books that have the supernatural aspect to them.
I also just started The King's Deception by Steve Berry which is the 8th book in the Cotton Malone series and one of my favorite series to read.
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Post by birukitty on Apr 19, 2016 20:14:22 GMT
I loved Firefly Lane because I was the exact age of the characters in the novel. I was 16 in 1976 so all of those references reminded me of things I'd forgotten about and I could relate to every single one of them. The Earth shoes and the Tiger Beat magazine, and all of the rest of them. It put me right back to living in that time. I think if that's not your time period I could easily see why those references would get overwhelming and seem forced. But for me they were wonderful. Debbie in MD. Debbie, I'm actually the exact same age as the characters as well. I'm enjoying the story and I was just feeling a little cranky when I wrote the review. I had just read a sentence where Tully was going to have a serious discussion with Kate and she stopped to grab a Tab out of the refrigerator. It just seemed like a weird time for Tully to drink a soda. For some reason, it reminded me of obnoxious product placement in movies. I understand why you'd feel that way. I have lost over 50% of my long term memories due to some medical treatments. For me reading this book was a discovery of all of those things I'd forgotten-even the Tab soda. I think we are just coming from two separate places on this one even though we are the same age. No need to say you were feeling a bit cranky when you wrote the review-you are fully entitled to your feelings about the book. I totally get the feeling of product placement in movies and how you would feel that in this book. For me though, it was a chance to rediscover all of those things I'd forgotten that was so much a part of our lives back then. Plus a pretty terrific story. Debbie in MD.
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