Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776329 times)

Steph · « **Reply #2040 on:** June 25, 2011, 06:13:36 AM »

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

Yes, the doctor did say that itus is the acute stage with an infection and the osis is a constant that generally does not cause problems. I have had both.. But dont seem bothered at this stage of the game.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #2041 on:** June 27, 2011, 04:43:25 PM »

Next month we read and wonder who or what is behind a mystery, centered around a French bookstore that stocks only 'Good Books' It is a challenge to figure out who is the culprit or culprits that arrange; an auto accident that lands a published author in the hospital, abducts into the forest another well respected author, a known alcholic who they force on him a bottle of liquer so that he ends up in a hospital and a couple of brutes stalk a third author, causing him during his daily walk to lay on the trail of the side of a mountain quacking with fear and the next day to run home as the brutes shout at him and taunt him. After the bookstore opens there are more outrageous attacks -

While reading this book we are treated to the author's many memorable quotes about reading - one gem after the other - The story centers on the opening of a bookstore and we are privy to all the decisions made by those creating a start-up business in Paris. (Steph didn't you own a bookstore - we need you - please...)

Won't your join us - July 1, when Mercie and I start the discussion of "The Novel Bookstore" by Laurence Cossé

Not sure I know how to do this but here is the URL for the pre-discussion -
http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=2267.0

We found so many bits and pieces in French sites about this book I am excited - The English reviews seem to have only copied from each other and missed so much that Laurence Cossé brings to our attention in one of the two videos that will be linked to the discussion where an interpreter sits by her side while our author explains her intent - this will be an adventure reading a literary style we have seldom explored. Come on over and enjoy the adventure.

Steph · « **Reply #2042 on:** June 28, 2011, 06:16:56 AM »

I am still working on the Ariana Franklin book about Berline and Anna Anderson.. Amazing book.. So many things about between the two WW's that I never understood.

Babi · « **Reply #2043 on:** June 28, 2011, 09:03:37 AM »

I posted this in the Library, and thought this would be a good place, too.

Starting Aug. 1, JoanP and I will be opening a discussion of Ivan Doig's
"Dancing at the Rascal Fair". I read it a few months ago, and highly
recommend it. "Dancing at the Rascal Fair" is an engrossing tale of two Irish lads who immigrate from a small fishing village in Ireland to the harsh, but magnificent, Two Medicine country of Montana. It offers the rigors of pioneering, humor, harsh realities and the ups and downs of
love and friendship. I hope you will want to join us.

Steph · « **Reply #2044 on:** June 30, 2011, 06:10:57 AM »

No reading yesterday.. Packing instead. The car is ready, my friend is here and later this morning, we will load up the dogs.. some coolers and off to our great adventure in the mountains of North Carolina. I will have wifi connections, but wont be online until Friday.. See ya later..

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2045 on:** July 01, 2011, 12:02:22 AM »

Just finished a Chiaverini quilt book, "Aloha Quilt". I enjoyed it. It taught me about the Hawaiian applique quilts that i didn't know. Chiaverini did a good job on the portrayal of the main character. She made me want to smack her (figuretively) on the back of the head and say " get over yourself" sev'l times, but i still liked the story.

I'm reading Christopher Buckley's "Boomsday". Very scarcastic story about how the youth rebell against " taking care of" the Boomers. He's over the top, but very funny at times.

Jean

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #2046 on:** July 01, 2011, 03:09:51 AM »

Jean, I haven't read that one yet, but I do enjoy those Jennifer Chiaverini books - so thanks to the person that first mentioned them - it may well have been you! - because I would never have heard of her otherwise.

I've just finished "Hidden Talents" by Erica James, another writer (British this time) I had never tried before. It was fairly light but I enjoyed it, - it's about five people who start a writing group. The characters were really well drawn, and I look forward to reading more of EJ's work.

Rosemary

Aberlaine · « **Reply #2047 on:** July 01, 2011, 06:58:56 PM »

I just finished The Plot Against America by Philip Roth for my f2f book club. Well written and twist on a theme: an American holocaust.

We're now reading The Help, which I've read already (actually listened to), but I loved it and wanted to read it again anyway.

Babi · « **Reply #2048 on:** July 02, 2011, 08:48:31 AM »

I read one Philip Roth book, hated it, have tried with considerable success to
forget about it...and of course, never read another.

Steph · « **Reply #2049 on:** July 02, 2011, 09:38:08 AM »

Babi, I am with you. Read two of Roths. hated them, have avoided him ever since. What a whiner he is.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2050 on:** July 02, 2011, 01:36:14 PM »

.....and he doesn't like women. He gave a bad treatment of women in the couple books of his i read when young and when i recently started another, with my raised consciousness, i quickly gave it up - his attitude hasn't changed.

Jean

MaryPage · « **Reply #2051 on:** July 02, 2011, 03:37:45 PM »

I read a best seller Philip Roth simply eons ago, and could not imagine what all the praise was about. I mean, it was Gross! I hate gross, and see no reason why anyone should inflict it on us.

Have stayed away from him ever since.

marjifay · « **Reply #2052 on:** July 02, 2011, 08:13:16 PM »

I read Roth's PORTNOY'S COMPLAINT a long time ago, and really liked it. Will have to give THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA a try.

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #2053 on:** July 02, 2011, 08:38:51 PM »

That's it! That's the one! Read it a ghastly number of years ago and was really freaked by it. Despised it, no less.

Yes, he can write; but what a nasty mind he has!

Gag me with a spoon!

Steph · « **Reply #2054 on:** July 03, 2011, 08:42:20 AM »

Mary Page.. Portnoy should have been drowned at birth. A terrib le book.. Ugh..

ursamajor · « **Reply #2055 on:** July 03, 2011, 09:17:47 AM »

I didn't like it either. I had to review it for a Library Sscience class and it was a very negative review, but the teacher read it to the class. Portnoy was a revolting little beast. As for The Plot Against America, I found it very difficult to take seriously.

Steph · « **Reply #2056 on:** July 04, 2011, 08:37:22 AM »

There are a couple of well known writers (male) who are much revered by reviewers that basically hate women.. Roth is a good example.

bellemere · « **Reply #2057 on:** July 04, 2011, 11:13:17 AM »

Philip Roth, Norman Mailer, John Updike, the three macho guys of literature, ,never liked them very much, but did like Updike's "Rabbit" books. Interesting to contrast their
macho heroes with some of today's antihero. '
Our book club selected, for summer reading: "Abide with Me" by Olive Strout; Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin, and "The Postmistress" " by, I forget. I have had a surfeit of books that take place in little English villages, or new England villages. Are any of these books on your shelf? Can you tell me a little? Our "recommending member, of course, loved them all.
I am currently reading, on my Nook, "The Imperfectionists" by Tom Rachman;' a nonlinear novel made up of different chapters, each centered on a character working for tn international paper set in Rome. They are linked together in ways that reveal themselves as you go along.

pedln · « **Reply #2058 on:** July 04, 2011, 11:17:11 AM »

I've never read any Roth, but remember family members talking about Portnoy when it came out, and they thought it all ridiculous.

But joy, of joy. A serendipitous find at the library -- an unheard of author and a wonderful book. Eternal on the Water by Joseph Monninger. It's sad, but also a very uplifting love story, with much focus on the world of nature. The characters are everyday people with big problems. In the opening pages you learn that a woman has drowned while kayaking. Then the story backtracks from there.

Monninger, a professor at the University of New Hampshire, has written eleven novels, and the two main characters in this book are also teachers in New Hampshire. The main settings are New Hampshire and also the Alagash River in Maine.

Bellemere, we were posting at the same time. The Postmistress is by Sarah Blake. I liked it and rate it up there with some first novels by women in the 40's (thereabouts) -- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, The Help, and Guernsey Literary Society. I could not get into The Imperfectionists. Maybe I should give them another try sometime.

salan · « **Reply #2059 on:** July 04, 2011, 01:02:16 PM »

What is the difference between this site and The Library? Sometimes, I am not sure where to post. Oh well, if you are like me then you read both sites, anyway. Someone asked me about A Widower's Tale by Julia Glass. I finally finished it--had to recheck it and then turned it in a day late. Can't say that I recommend it, but I did finish it! It was okay, but too easy to put down and hard to pick up again. I couldn't really get involved with the characters or the book. Maybe it was just the mood I was in......I am now reading 2 books I love so far. Skyward by Mary Alice Monroe. It takes place along the coast of South Carolina on a rehab center for wild birds. Really enjoying it so far. I am also reading The Man in the Wooden Hat by Jane Gardam. Don't you love that title?? Don't know who the "man" is so far, but I am enjoying the book. It is the prequel to Old Filth.
Sally

maryz · « **Reply #2060 on:** July 04, 2011, 01:08:24 PM »

Sally, I like Mary Alice Monroe's books, too. I had some correspondence with her a couple of years ago about possibly speaking to our Friends of the Library. She was more than willing, but we couldn't get a date that particular year. I hope we can get her some other time.

I wouldn't do what you did with your Julia Glass book. If a story or the characters don't grab me fairly quickly, I send it back to the library. I have no problem with leaving an unsatisfactory book unfinished.

Steph · « **Reply #2061 on:** July 05, 2011, 08:05:39 AM »

I think it was Mary Alice Monroe that met with the bookies when we went to Sullivans Island years ago in the winter. Great party..

Babi · « **Reply #2062 on:** July 05, 2011, 09:39:11 AM »

Quote

but too easy to put down and hard to pick up again

A sure clue that a book is not really all that interesting, isn't it, SALLY. There have been some books like that of
which I finally say, "Why am I bothering with this?", and go find another book.
Between 'Fiction' and the 'Library' is only the technicality of genre. Library includes them all, while fiction..theoretically..is about fiction only. But like friends anywhere, no matter why we've gotten together, we're likely to wind up talking about anything!

marcie · « **Reply #2063 on:** July 05, 2011, 10:38:47 AM »

If you're looking for recommendations for good fiction, please join us in our July discussion of A NOVEL BOOKSTORE which is just starting. You are likely to find a copy in your local library.

You'll find lots of recommendations for interesting books, nominated by a secret committee who select books for the novel bookstore! Will your tastes match theirs?

Will the act of determining "good books" become dangerous? Join us at http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?board=120.0 and find out!

pedln · « **Reply #2064 on:** July 05, 2011, 11:24:51 AM »

Yes, it was Mary Alice Monroe, Steph, on Isle of Palms, and a great party. She is really a terrific person and spent so much time with us, and brought a photographer along with her. And then the photographer invited us all to the turtle rehab at the South Carolina Aquarium. Two very special people. I hope you and Monroe can set a date sometime for your library group, MaryZ.

Steph · « **Reply #2065 on:** July 06, 2011, 09:06:39 AM »

Finised THWTWH... and am trying to decide what to read next. Will check out my IPAD for all of the books I have downloaded and not read.

marjifay · « **Reply #2066 on:** July 07, 2011, 03:48:38 PM »

Steph said, "Finised THWTWH... and am trying to decide what to read next."

Curious. What book is "THWTWH"?

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #2067 on:** July 08, 2011, 08:03:38 AM »

Too many initials..The man in the wooden hat.. Put in too many letters. Sorry.

JimNT · « **Reply #2068 on:** July 17, 2011, 09:56:23 AM »

Are there any Mo Hayder fans out there? I'm just now finishing Treatment, my second. He's an English mystery writer and a good one. However, Treatment addresses a a depressing subject and I can't recommend that particular novel, but as a writer he's among the best in my opinion.

Frybabe · « **Reply #2069 on:** July 17, 2011, 10:58:46 AM »

Hi JimNT!

You've made yourself scarce these last few months. Hope everything is going well.

I've never heard of Mo Hayder, sorry. Looks like another book/author expedition to see what he (?) is about. Oops, it is a SHE with eight books under her belt. I don't recall any of them.

roshanarose · « **Reply #2070 on:** July 17, 2011, 09:21:21 PM »

Hand Up. Yes Jim I am a Mo Hayder fan from way back. I read her first three books (a bit gruesome for some, but excellent). Then I read "Tokyo" which is a departure from her normal style of writing. Then I read "Pig Island", unusual but good also. I often get Hayder and Tess Gerritson (spelling?) confused as their books, themes and style are quite similar. Both authors worth reading imho.

Steph · « **Reply #2071 on:** July 18, 2011, 08:23:03 AM »

Mo Hayder is a new one for me.Will look her up.. But I will confess that I still stay away from depressing books.. Just not quite ready to handle anyone elses depression, brings back too many memories.

JimNT · « **Reply #2072 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:04:00 PM »

The joke's on me. My brother recently gifted me a Kindle and I read all my "airplane" reads on it. I buy the hardcover for "good" books to display on my bookshelves and impress my few friends with my interest in great literature. The point is this; I usually read the dust cover page, introducing the author, and all the reviews on the hardcover but I don't bother with this on the Kindle. Lo and behold, I learn from your comments that Mo is a "she". This makes absolutely no difference to me. I simply was surprised to learn of my mistake. I shall read more "Mo's" in the future.

Steph · « **Reply #2073 on:** July 19, 2011, 07:48:51 AM »

I read half on my IPAD and half in paperback.. Depends on where I am.. At home, more paperback, but in North Carolina for the month, more on the IPAD until I found the Highlands library used book store. What a nice one.

pedln · « **Reply #2074 on:** July 19, 2011, 12:46:49 PM »

Judy Laird -- I sent you an email. Hope all is well.

Steph · « **Reply #2075 on:** July 20, 2011, 08:00:56 AM »

Ann, say Hi to Judy from me as well. I always remember how much she fell in love with the south and how she wanted to explore all of it .

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2076 on:** July 21, 2011, 07:39:21 PM »

I just finished an interesting novel, Painted Dresses by Patricia Hickman. It's another novel set in North Carolina! An older sister comes home for a father's funeral and due to interesting circumstances she and a strange younger sister take off on a road trip. The sister's behavio is never labeled, but she lives with out boundaries, very compulsive behavior. The two off them end up at a deceased aunt's cabin in Ga. The aunt painted dresses (literally put paint on dresses) of different family and mounted them as pictures. Each has a note on to be delivered to someone. As they travel around NC, Ga and Louisiana, delivering the dresses, the older sister learns more about her family and their secrets - of course! But even tho it was the usual dysfunctional family and the usual unvailing of secrets, it keep me reading and entertained.

I started Saving Cece Honeycut by Beth Hoffman, but it was another dgt of a crazy mother story and too much the same as Painted Dresses, so i put it down and picked up The Belt of Gold by Cecelia Holland which is set in Constantinople in the 11 th century. I figured that was enough different from NC in the 20th century to be satisfying

. Has anyone read Cecelia Holland. I just picked it up from the library shelf bcs i was looking for some historical fiction.

Jean

JimNT · « **Reply #2077 on:** July 22, 2011, 06:41:29 AM »

I'm reading Fifth Witness now; probably only person in America who hasn't read it months ago. Painted Dresses doesn't sound like my cup of tea but I'll be on the watch for Cecelia Holland. Thanks.

Steph · « **Reply #2078 on:** July 22, 2011, 08:07:32 AM »

Cecilia Holland has been writing for a long time. Mostly historical fiction.. Sort of dry for me, but not bad.. I loved Cece Honeycutt. A different type of rescue and interesting.

salan · « **Reply #2079 on:** July 22, 2011, 09:23:40 AM »

I, also read CeeCee and enjoyed it. I am currently reading the new (to me) Sarah Addison Allen book, The Peach Keeper. So far, so good. N.C. setting. I read SAA's Garden Spells and really enjoyed it; so am hoping this is as good. I am also reading Dixie Divas. It's good enough to continue, but......Maybe I am like you Jean and need a new setting.
Sally

News:

Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776329 times)