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 Aug 24, 2014 23:01:24 GMT
How is everyone doing? Our summer is winding down and the kids are getting ready to go back to school. My little dd has to read 15 books this summer and she's currently on #12 so she's been spending a lot of time with my kindle. Both if m dds love Kindle Freetime and how it charts their progress.
I finished THE GOOD GIRL by Mary Kubica this week. I liked it. It's a thriller with a GONE GIRL sort of vibe about an abduction of a woman. The narration is from the mother of the woman, the detective and the kidnapper, both before and after the kidnapping. I found myself up at the crack of dawn to finish this book before my girls were up.
I'm also reading ROOFTOPPERS by Katherine Rundell to my older dd. It's interesting with good themes, but I'm not blown away.
What is everyone else reading?
Paige.
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Post by RobbyKay on Aug 24, 2014 23:22:22 GMT
Hi Readers!
I read Amy Bloom's newest title Lucky Us. It's about an odd sort of family, who start out in Ohio, move to Hollywood, then on to Brooklyn. It's set around WWII. There are a lot of themes about being someone you are not. It was good - and odd, but good.
My book club is reading La's Orchestra Saves the World, by Alexander McCall Smith. I'm halfway through. It's about a woman living in rural England, right around WWII. So far, so good.
Happy reading!
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Post by powderhorngreen on Aug 24, 2014 23:41:05 GMT
Two for me this week, nothing that hasn't been mentioned here before. So, I'll give a quick star rating.
All The LIght We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - loved it!!!! 5 stars
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - good and quick. Laughed out loud a couple of times. 4 stars.
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Post by Erica on Aug 24, 2014 23:47:22 GMT
I'm reading a Discovery of Witches. I don't like it very well. Everything I've read so far has reminded me other books I've read before. Did anyone else have that impression?
However, I will continue with the trilogy. I just hope the story gets better.
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Post by powderhorngreen on Aug 24, 2014 23:49:56 GMT
Erica -
Just my opinion, but save yourself! I read the first one, got half way through the second one and gave up. Wish I hadn't spent as much time on it as I did.
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gotpeas
New Member
Posts: 6
Jul 16, 2014 13:53:09 GMT
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Post by gotpeas on Aug 24, 2014 23:51:12 GMT
On my kindle I finished Lies you wanted to hear by James Whitfield Thomson I loved this book! I loved the pace of the story, the characters were very authentic to me...not the typical characters you fall in love with, they struggled, they did bad things, they were annoying - but I found myself engrossed and turning pages wondering where is the story going?? - it all just worked well for me!
On Audio I finished The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand I liked the book. It made for a good end of the summer read I guess. I would give it 3.5 stars because I was totally engaged for the whole story......it was just soooo predictable at every single moment!!
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,458
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Aug 25, 2014 0:00:33 GMT
Two for me this week, nothing that hasn't been mentioned here before. So, I'll give a quick star rating. All The LIght We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - loved it!!!! 5 stars Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - good and quick. Laughed out loud a couple of times. 4 stars. All the Light We Cannot See is my reading group book for September. I just downloaded the audio version. Glad to see your 5 stars. ------- On audio I finished Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. I really enjoyed it. I didn't know it was a movie until a friend said she saw it. I also read The Soul Catcher (a Maggie O'Dell book) by Alex Kava. It was OK. Predictable FBI thriller, but a quick interesting read. This one is focused on cult religion. I'm also listening to Mr Mercedes by Stephen King. More than 50% and really liking it.
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Post by Erica on Aug 25, 2014 0:03:10 GMT
Erica - Just my opinion, but save yourself! I read the first one, got half way through the second one and gave up. Wish I hadn't spent as much time on it as I did. This will teach me to not judge a book by its cover. I liked the covers so I wanted to read them. Boy, was I wrong!!
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Post by Erica on Aug 25, 2014 0:04:30 GMT
Question: has anyone read books written by Rick Springfield. I've been wondering if its worth it.
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gottapeanow
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,818
Jun 25, 2014 20:56:09 GMT
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Post by gottapeanow on Aug 25, 2014 0:26:27 GMT
I had a little down time this week because it was my birthday. I lounged by the pool with my sister but didn't get quite as much reading done as I had hoped. Still, two for me.... One Day by David Nicholls. This was nominated for 2 peas book club but didn't make the cut. Still, it was at the top of my to-read pile. I know people talked about this; most of the negative comments surrounded the characters' lack of depth. I was prepared to not really like it, but surprisingly, I got over the characters and really enjoyed it. The ending surprised me a bit. 4/5 stars. I had Big Little Lies on hold at the library right down the street and was [HASH]50-something on the list. When I was in town for my staycation, I stopped at the main library. They had it there - no wait list! I was really happy, since it is our book club book for Nov. I did not like how it started because of all the characters. But I kept reading and thought it got much better around the middle of the book. By the end, I thought it was great and was happy I persevered. 4/5 stars. I think I liked it slightly better than The Husband's Secret. Lisa
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Post by Scrapbrat on Aug 25, 2014 0:59:01 GMT
This will be shocking, but I am finally reading Outlander. I have debated getting it for a couple of years now. I just couldn't decide, from the things people said about it, whether it was for me. I am a slow reader, so a book like this is a real commitment for me. So far, I am really enjoying it!
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Post by Princess Amy on Aug 25, 2014 1:11:35 GMT
I an currently reading Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige HillI am just floored by how BIZARRE Scientology beliefs are. I am also re-reading Outlander I'm a little frustrated by the television version. The romance between Jamie and Claire is why I'm so endeared to the series. The TV version is taking a different route, come on already!!!
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psychgirl
Shy Member
Posts: 37
Jun 26, 2014 1:27:38 GMT
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Post by psychgirl on Aug 25, 2014 1:27:40 GMT
Princess Amy, I just finished reading Beyond Belief myself and couldn't agree more. All of it is just so unbelievable. While I guess I can understand how you might just go along with it had you been raised in the church (as the author had), I just don't see how outsiders would be drawn to such a belief system. It makes NO sense to me. And the way the church views family relationships was just appalling. One hour a day with your children, ever? Unbelievable.
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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 Aug 25, 2014 1:28:23 GMT
Just started So Far Gone, Girl the parody of Gone Girl that was free on Kindle. Literally, just started only read 2 pages but it seems like it will be funny.
Just finished Jojo Moyes, Sheltering Rain, I liked it. Not one of her best, but I enjoyed it!
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Post by Katiepotatie on Aug 25, 2014 1:41:39 GMT
I finally ditched Elin Hilderbrand's Barefoot (was 1/3 of the way in, didn't care one bit about the characters or what happens to them). Picked up To Kill a Mockingbird (never had read it!). BEST CHOICE EVER!!
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,641
Jun 26, 2014 14:35:07 GMT
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Post by janeliz on Aug 25, 2014 1:53:15 GMT
I read Beth Harbison's Driving With the Top Down. I actually loved this book. I don't doubt she gets dismissed as just a "chick lit" author by a lot of people, but I find her characters really relatable and layered. This book in particular was a fun story with bits of humor, but it also included some serious themes.
I'm now reading Karen White's A Long Time Gone. Another good read. I'm having trouble putting it down.
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Post by zoeybug on Aug 25, 2014 1:56:26 GMT
Hi Refupeas Who Read!
It's that time of the year where I do NOTHING but get ready for my school (I start inservice for my preschool tomorrow)and get our kids ready to go back to school and this year we had the added bonus of our oldest son starting his freshman year of college. Move-in was yesterday about six hours away from us so I just got back a little while ago. So.....no, I haven't read much! I do have two going: Natchez Burning by Greg Illes and China Dolls by Lisa See. I "like" both books but certainly don't love them. The first is a novel about some old civil rights era crimes and how they affect the main character Penn Cage and his family and home town, Natchez, MS. My main complaint with this book is that it's incredibly LONG and the latest in a series of books with this protagonist so I'm a little lost.
The second is the third Lisa See book I've read this summer and I'm trying to finish it before my library loan ends-honestly thought I would be long finished with Natchez Burning before now!
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Post by originalvanillabean on Aug 25, 2014 1:57:04 GMT
I an currently reading Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige HillI am just floored by how BIZARRE Scientology beliefs are. I read that book last summer and find the beliefs very different too! I'm still reading The Book Thief but the library alerted me that The Mockingbird Next Door has come in and I am quite excited to read that one.
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Post by Erica on Aug 25, 2014 2:00:56 GMT
I finally ditched Elin Hilderbrand's Barefoot (was 1/3 of the way in, didn't care one bit about the characters or what happens to them). Picked up To Kill a Mockingbird (never had read it!). BEST CHOICE EVER!!
I'm among the many who love To kill a Mocking Bird. I think I'll read it again.
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Post by smokeynspike on Aug 25, 2014 3:52:50 GMT
I finished Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness and The Giver by Lois Lowry this weekend. I just started Have a Nice Guilt Trip by Lisa Scottoline today. I am one book behind on my GoodReads yearly challenge, so I have been trying to catch up!
Melissa
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Post by tania7424 on Aug 25, 2014 4:24:53 GMT
This past week I read Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty, Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel, and The Rosie Project by Graham Stinson. Loved them all. Big Little Lies I read in a day it was so good. I learned a ton about the space program in Astronaut Wives Club, since it's a biography. The Rosie Project I kept picturing Jim Parsons as Sheldon from Big Bang Theory and Pauley Parette as Abby from NCIS for the main characters.
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Post by pjaye on Aug 25, 2014 14:49:25 GMT
I finished listening to The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones. I liked it. Although there's a murder in the book, it's not a 'whodunit' it's more of a character study about the people in a small town and how their lives intertwine and interact. I thought it was well written and if you like character driven books rather than action books, then you'd like this one. I'd give it 3.5/5 stars.
I did exactly the same thing with my next book! The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. Great title, nice cover...but it was a bad book. Unbelievable story line, unlikeable characters and the writing wasn't good either. It's the story of a girl who's father was shot and who's mother vanished 23 years ago when she was aged 3. The book starts when the man who was sentenced for their murder is let out of prison and is on his way back to town. The story had promise, but the writer couldn't make it work and it just got more ridiculous as it went I listened to the audiobook and I also didn't like the narrator, she bordered on 'screechy' much of the time. I wouldn't recommend this 1.5/stars.
Currently listening to The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. There's two different audiobook versions and the one I have is narrated by Jenny Agutter (who plays Sister Julienne in "Call The Midwife") She has a lovely voice and I'm really enjoying the narration. The main story is about a reclusive author who is dying and she hires a biographer and finally tells the true story of her life. It has a dark/Gothic Victorian feel and I'm about 50% through and liking it very much.
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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 Aug 25, 2014 14:52:39 GMT
I'm catching up on a series of books by David Downing about an English journalist who lives in Berlin during and after WW II and becomes a spy. The last book is called Masaryk Station. These books really capture the feeling of Germany during the war!
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Post by mom2luke on Aug 25, 2014 15:00:11 GMT
I haven't participated in a couple of weeks so I have three books...
The first is The Orphan Train which I really enjoyed. I would have liked to have read more about the trains and gone a little deeper into the story.
Then I read Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner. I had never read anything by her. This was my by the pool fluff read and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. The book was pretty well written and despite the title there was no sex in the book. For a fluff read I would definitely recommend it.
The third book I read was Where She Went. This was the sequel to If You Stay. It was ok. The book was a little slow but I like that I am able to "finish" the story.
Now I am reading The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer. I am about 100 pages in and I am enjoying it. It is the story of four kids that went to art camp the summer that Nixon resigned. I would like the story to pickup a little bit we will see.
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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 Aug 25, 2014 15:04:38 GMT
I finished listening to The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones. I liked it. Although there's a murder in the book, it's not a 'whodunit' it's more of a character study about the people in a small town and how their lives intertwine and interact. I thought it was well written and if you like character driven books rather than action books, then you'd like this one. I'd give it 3.5/5 stars. I did exactly the same thing with my next book! The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. Great title, nice cover...but it was a bad book. Unbelievable story line, unlikeable characters and the writing wasn't good either. It's the story of a girl who's father was shot and who's mother vanished 23 years ago when she was aged 3. The book starts when the man who was sentenced for their murder is let out of prison and is on his way back to town. The story had promise, but the writer couldn't make it work and it just got more ridiculous as it went I listened to the audiobook and I also didn't like the narrator, she bordered on 'screechy' much of the time. I wouldn't recommend this 1.5/stars. Currently listening to The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. There's two different audiobook versions and the one I have is narrated by Jenny Agutter (who plays Sister Julienne in "Call The Midwife") She has a lovely voice and I'm really enjoying the narration. The main story is about a reclusive author who is dying and she hires a biographer and finally tells the true story of her life. It has a dark/Gothic Victorian feel and I'm about 50% through and liking it very much. I read the Thirteenth Tale years ago and loved it!
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Post by tiffanyannhulsey on Aug 25, 2014 15:05:58 GMT
Just finished Mrs. Poe for Refupeas Book Club. I won't say anything further to avoid spoilers but I will say I loved it! It was very interesting and wonderfully written.
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teddyw
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,077
Jun 29, 2014 1:56:04 GMT
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Post by teddyw on Aug 25, 2014 15:15:40 GMT
I'm going to pick up Beyond Belief. It's available at the library & I need to get back into reading. I'm in a slump. With cooking too. Maybe I'll get some cookbooks.
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Post by annabella on Aug 25, 2014 15:24:32 GMT
I'm finishing up The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan. It's given me a great insight into the middle east conflict. It's the story of a man whose family was forced out of their home in Palestine and the Bulgarian family who inhabits it now. 20 years later he knocked on the door and over the years built up a relationship with the new occupant of his family's home.
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Deleted
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Oct 11, 2024 2:16:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2014 15:27:46 GMT
Currently working on Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. I have a feeling my reading is about to slow down. I finally got released from all restrictions after back surgery, so it was back on the workout routine for me this am.
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Post by kckckc on Aug 25, 2014 17:35:42 GMT
I finished two books this week.
I Shall Be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe. The story of a woman who posed as a man, so that she could join the Union army with her husband. I'm not sure why I didn't like this book more. It was an interesting story, the writing was fine - it all just felt a little flat to me. 3/5
Canada by Richard Ford. I listened to this one on a Playaway audio (I just discovered the Playaways at the library - very convenient to listen to!) This one came out a couple of years ago to a lot of buzz and won several awards. The story of a young teenager whose parents commit a robbery and are sent to jail. The boy runs away to Canada with the help of his mother's friend to avoid an orphanage. I thought it was just okay. 3/5
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