Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776124 times)

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1160 on:** November 03, 2010, 05:00:25 PM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

Well, I am from London and I hate, hate, hate it too. When I sometimes read magazines in the dentist's waiting room, I am quite frankly stunned, not to mention horrified, at what younger people (and indeed some older people) apparently see fit to share with all and sundry. And I certainly don't want to read the details in novels either.

R

Steph · « **Reply #1161 on:** November 04, 2010, 05:57:10 AM »

Mary Page, I thought it was a generational thing as well.

roshanarose · « **Reply #1162 on:** November 04, 2010, 10:56:33 AM »

Evidently Jimmy Carter was a proponent of parthenogenesis.

Steph · « **Reply #1163 on:** November 05, 2010, 06:06:57 AM »

I loved that.. He is a much better non fiction writer than fiction. His characters are wooden and he evidently decided that the Indians and the people on the side of the Brits were nicer than the colonists.. So I can say I like the book that much..

Aberlaine · « **Reply #1164 on:** November 05, 2010, 08:48:40 AM »

Thanks for your help, ladies. What I was looking for was a newer book. Maybe I just dreamt it. Yes, my book group consists of older, retired ladies. I've read most of the Covington series, but don't know if they have. I'll have a back-up just in case.

Nancy

Steph · « **Reply #1165 on:** November 06, 2010, 08:41:58 AM »

This was our charity sale morning. A local store lets all the local charities sell five dollar tickets.. The money all goes to the charity.. Then the ticket gets you into the store from 6-10am.. You get five dollars off the purchase and the store discounts things between 40 and 60%.. Great fun. I generally buy my daughter in laws and granddaughters christmas things and did so again, along with sneaking in a few things for me.

maryz · « **Reply #1166 on:** November 06, 2010, 09:29:50 AM »

I saw an ad yesterday for one of our stores (Belk) doing that. I'd never heard of it before. I don't shop, so won't take advantage of it. Sounds great for shoppers, though.

Steph · « **Reply #1167 on:** November 07, 2010, 05:54:09 AM »

Yes, it is Belk and the bargains were enormous.. I am not really a shopper, but I do generally shop at Belks anyway for me..

pedln · « **Reply #1168 on:** November 07, 2010, 01:43:19 PM »

Marcie, I'm glad you found that Elevator book. It sounded pretty good, so I've just downloaded it to my Kindle. And the Kindle price was half that of the print version. Now to find the time to read all the bargains.

Nancy, my f2f group is made up of retirees -- mostly in sixties, early seventies. Two that we read this year that were well liked and lent themselves to good discussion were Nancy Pickard's Virgin of Small Plains and Harlan Coben's Hold Tight.

Aberlaine · « **Reply #1169 on:** November 07, 2010, 08:54:33 PM »

I decided to choose Three Cups of Tea for my f2f book group. I already have it on my mp3 player and have started it. This way I can read a book that I've already chosen to read for myself. Cut down a bit on the books I'm trying to read.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

marcie · « **Reply #1170 on:** November 07, 2010, 10:14:43 PM »

Pedln, I'm glad that you found another interesting book to read. You're right, none of us seems to have any difficulty finding more books!

Steph · « **Reply #1171 on:** November 08, 2010, 05:51:36 AM »

I just finished Sand Sharks by Margaret Maron.. I do love her,, but reading this one, I realized I have missed a recent one in the series.. Her new husbands ex wife was murdered recently and there was a book on it.. News to me.. Must go and check the book reviews to see which one I missed.

JoanK · « **Reply #1172 on:** November 09, 2010, 02:37:44 PM »

Or check in the Mystery Corner. Someone will know. Or go to Fantastic Fiction for a list of her books.

JoanK · « **Reply #1173 on:** November 09, 2010, 02:43:32 PM »

Or check in the Mystery Corner. Someone will know. Or go to Fantastic Fiction for a list of her books.

Here is Maron:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/margaret-maron/

Scroll down for a list of her Deborah Knott books in order. Looks like the one before "Sand Sharks" is "Deaths Half Acre". I see there is one after "Sand Sharks" too.

pedln · « **Reply #1174 on:** November 09, 2010, 09:59:39 PM »

Steph, I think it's Winter's Child, and if not that one, then it would be Hard Row.

Steph · « **Reply #1175 on:** November 10, 2010, 05:46:17 AM »

I checked and it was Winters Child.. Ordered it through my swap book exchange.. Knew I had missed something. Yes the new one is out in hardback. I tend to wait until paperback. Or download it if it is cheap enough.

ALF43 · « **Reply #1176 on:** November 10, 2010, 10:50:47 AM »

I am really enjoying The Three Weissmanns of Westport, by Cathleen Schine. It is a story of two middle-aged sisters who find themselves living in a small home with their mother who has just been jilted after fifty years of marriage by her 75 year old husband. (Of course -there is another woman.) I love the characters and swear that I know one personally.

It is well written which is unusual for these type of hum-drum "Harry LEAVES Sally" stories.

Steph · « **Reply #1177 on:** November 11, 2010, 05:44:55 AM »

Alf, I have that one on my list, just have not gotten around to getting it yet. So many books,, etc,,

JimNT · « **Reply #1178 on:** November 17, 2010, 10:12:26 PM »

I just started Ken Follett's latest titled The Pillars of the Earth. I've never read his novels but judging from the first 100 or so pages this one is a page turner. Any Follett fans out there?

maryz · « **Reply #1179 on:** November 17, 2010, 11:02:56 PM »

Pillars of the Earth is not Follett's latest book. It came out in 1989. But it's one of my favorites. I've gotten it on my Kindle for re-reading in the near future.

CallieOK · « **Reply #1180 on:** November 17, 2010, 11:41:19 PM »

Jim, I read "Pillars..." and enjoyed it. I'm now reading Ken Follett's latest, which is "Fall of Giants". It's the first book in a Trilogy about the 20th Century and is set in 1915-1924. I find that, in trying to follow the fictional plot lines, I'm skipping over a lot of his detailed descriptions of WWI/Russian Revolution events.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #1181 on:** November 18, 2010, 04:37:38 AM »

I have just finished Staying On (Paul Scott) and really enjoyed it. I think we were speaking earlier about maybe discussing it, and I would like to do that if anyone else would. There were so many little references in it to The Jewel In The Crown; they took me back to many scenes in the TV series, which was so good and so well acted that even now I enjoy just thinking about it.

It's cold and miserable here - the smaller of my Siamese is huddled on the thing at the back of the computer that gets warm - she's already cut of the WiFi a couple of times

. When she's not there she's sitting in front of the gas fire (off) looking at me plaintively. I am thinking of getting them a heated bed for Christmas - empty nester? Moi?

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #1182 on:** November 18, 2010, 06:09:56 AM »

When I still lived in the north, I would laugh at my corgis.. I was living in a victorian with radiators..They both would plaster themselves next to the radiator and I would fuss at them.. I would get such a look. Corgi are way too smart for their own good.

JimNT · « **Reply #1183 on:** November 18, 2010, 07:25:43 AM »

Maryz, et.al: Excuse me. I'm surprised that The Pillars of the Earth was pub back in 1989. It was just recommended to me so I assumed it was of a much more recent vintage. Thanks for telling me.

MaryPage · « **Reply #1184 on:** November 18, 2010, 08:16:34 AM »

I enjoyed Pillars of The Earth immensely, Jim. The mini-series made recently and showing on STARZ was interesting, but disappointing. Perhaps because I loved Pillars so much, I was expecting too much.

Pillars has a sequel, as well; did you know? It is titled WORLD WITHOUT END and takes place in the same place 200 years later with descendants of some of the characters in Pillars. I was given it as a gift some years ago, but have not gotten around to it as yet. Too little time, too many books. Besides, this one is quite large!

Speaking of size, my brand new First Edition of Mark Twain's autobiography is beyond huge; and it is only Volume One of three! I have it on a little stool next to my reading/easy chair, but confess to being daunted. In scanning through it, it is quite, quite wonderful. Glad I lived to see the end of his 100-year edict (so no one living back then would be hurt by his totally frank opinions and merciless descriptions) and I can be privy to his thoughts and memories.

maryz · « **Reply #1185 on:** November 18, 2010, 08:33:09 AM »

MaryPage, I got the Mark Twain autobiography on my Kindle. I haven't gotten to it yet, but John's been reading in it occasionally. I've been hearing lots of chuckles from him. But I gather it's not for sustained reading.

I can't manage the big books anymore - that's why I got the Kindle.

Babi · « **Reply #1186 on:** November 18, 2010, 08:56:24 AM »

I seem to be avoiding the big books, too, lately. Not because they are heavy, but because I
fear they will take up too much of my time and I have other books I want to read. It seems odd, I seem to be less patient as I grow older. I think it is simply the realization that I
have less time available. When I was eighteen, 1000 page books were no problem at all, at all. $:-\$

mabel1015j · « **Reply #1187 on:** November 18, 2010, 12:38:36 PM »

I read both Pillars......and WWE, liked them both.....Jean

salan · « **Reply #1188 on:** November 18, 2010, 06:28:30 PM »

Babi-I feel that way about large books, also. When I was younger, I was glad when a book that I was enjoying was large--took longer to reach the end. Now, I am rather daunted if a book is too large. I also like a book to have short chapters, go figure!
Sally

nlhome · « **Reply #1189 on:** November 18, 2010, 08:15:09 PM »

Salan and Babi - I avoid big books also - so little time, so much to read. When it comes to fiction, I look for short stories.

JimNT · « **Reply #1190 on:** November 18, 2010, 10:38:45 PM »

I fully appreciate and understand those of you who dislike large books, but I can't bear to entertain the thought that I might not have read Gone With the Wind had I avoided large books.

maryz · « **Reply #1191 on:** November 18, 2010, 11:54:45 PM »

Jim, when I read GWTW, I wasn't having problems holding larger books. However, that was a few years ago.

Steph · « **Reply #1192 on:** November 19, 2010, 06:05:38 AM »

GWTW was daunting, but wonderful. I read Pillars years ago and loved it, but did not read the sequel.. Depends on the author. I find that most of the really way too big books have poor editors and go on and on about very little. Read Jimmy Carters Hornets Nest for my FtF book club.. He could have used a stricter editor..

Babi · « **Reply #1193 on:** November 19, 2010, 08:50:42 AM »

SALLY & NL, I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one with that little quirk. I hope,
like MARYZ, I've already read the best biggies.

Steph · « **Reply #1194 on:** November 20, 2010, 05:57:25 AM »

Ijust finished the darndest book.. Not sure exactly how I feel about it. Some Girls..My life in a Harem by Jillian Lauren. It seems to be a story about a current day female. She drifted around in NYC, was in the sex trade,, mostly as a stripper. Very young and stupid.. She answered an ad and went to Brunei as a harem girl for the younger brother of the Sultan.. You could come and go there, no prisoners and no marriage.. He just had parties, picked out a girl each night and day and took them off.. A strange life indeed. She seems to have both liked and disliked it. Stoped when she was 20 or so and is now married, etc and lives in California. Odd.. cannot quite decided if it is fiction or not.. She tells it like it isnt, but it does seem improbable.. Ah well. Sort of funny in parts. But why would you want to become an impersonal sex object like that is beyond me.

Babi · « **Reply #1195 on:** November 20, 2010, 08:42:08 AM »

I think I'll skip that one, STEPH. I wonder what her husband thinks of the book? Fiction or non-fiction, it must still be awkwad for him.

Steph · « **Reply #1196 on:** November 21, 2010, 06:22:36 AM »

The last of the book is about she and her husband adopting a baby. She had had an abortion when younger, but seems to not be able to have children now.. Very odd book indeed.

joangrimes · « **Reply #1197 on:** November 21, 2010, 08:55:01 PM »

I am a real Ken Follett Fan. I have read everything he has written. I read every word of his latest one..." The Fall of Giants"...I really enjoyed it...I love history...Joan Grimes

Gumtree · « **Reply #1198 on:** November 22, 2010, 03:54:45 AM »

So there you are JoanGrimes - and looking so much your old self as well...

I'm planning to read Fall of Giants during the Christmas/summer holidays - after I read the new translation of the Lavransdatter trilogy.... which was just released in Australia today -

Steph · « **Reply #1199 on:** November 22, 2010, 06:10:20 AM »

History and Art as I recall, Joan.. oh yeah... going to France.. Hope all is well for you now.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776124 times)