Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776288 times)

dbroomsc · « **Reply #2200 on:** September 05, 2011, 08:23:16 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

STEPH: I'm sorry to hear that Kate Morton's "The Forgotten Garden" is not as interesting as you had hoped. Her books are long, but even so I thought "The House at Riverton" was an excellent read and was looking forward to reading "The Forgotten Garden" as well as "The Distant Hours." However, my policy is if a book doesn't "grab" you in the first fifty pages, leave it and go on to something else. There are too many good books out there to labor over one that doesn't excite you.

Gumtree · « **Reply #2201 on:** September 05, 2011, 10:03:48 AM »

Hi Dean69 Forgotten Garden was OK though far too long - it grabbed me right from the jump but as it progressed Morton telegraphed what was coming too early on so there were really no surprises. In parts she also seemed to be trying to rewrite some of Dickens work. I haven't bothered to read anything else by her.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #2202 on:** September 06, 2011, 05:30:18 PM »

Thanks Steph I have been pondering putting the Forgotten Garden on my Kindle. I cross that off and save some money. Yeah I have to confess after reading most of the trash in the world I had never read a Evanaovich book. I was at the grocery store yesterday and her new one was 40% off and I thought why not?

I read that book and was really embaressesd for myself I lauughed out loud , laughed til the tears rolled down my face and then laughed some more. All by myself just having the best time ever.
You all owe to yourseves just once anyway.

salan · « **Reply #2203 on:** September 06, 2011, 07:22:02 PM »

I guess I am in the minority here, as I thoroughly enjoyed Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden. I also enjoyed The House at Riverton and The Distant Hours. Read the review of Garden on Amazon and I urge you to give it a try if you like family sagas.
Sally

MaryPage · « **Reply #2204 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:32:19 AM »

I enjoyed The Forgotten Garden, as well. I wrote in here at the time that I read it that I felt the jumping back and forth in both time and with different people was difficult for me to follow, but the tale was an engrossing one. I have The House At Riverton in my pile TBR.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2205 on:** September 07, 2011, 02:11:57 PM »

Yes, Judy, Evanovich can make one laugh outloud. Some of hers are better then others, but i've laughed at each one, which number were you reading? They are just plain entertaining, something i need on a regular basis. I generally have at least three books "going" at a time - a good fiction, a cozy (entertaining) mystery and a non-fiction. Depending on my mood i choose which one to read at bedtime.

Jean

JoanP · « **Reply #2206 on:** September 07, 2011, 04:55:09 PM »

Sicne we received word of Eloise's passing last evening, we have been working on a Memorial site where we can share memories of our time with Eloise and words of condolences for Eloise's family. It will probably won't come as a surprise to them that she was loved, but by so many!

Even if you've expressed some thoughts here since yesterday, will you please repeat them in the site we intend to send on to the family? Thanks.

Memorial Page for Eloise De Pelteau

Babi · « **Reply #2207 on:** September 07, 2011, 07:45:03 PM »

My bedtime choice is usually the smallest, lightest book, JEAN. If my current reads are
all big or heavy, I can always grab the 'Smithsonian'. Or, if I'm really lucky, I'll just
fall asleep immediately. (Where's a 'sleepy' icon when you need one?)

CallieOK · « **Reply #2208 on:** September 07, 2011, 08:23:00 PM »

I save my magazine reads for bedtime and "The Smithsonian" is a favorite.

JimNT · « **Reply #2209 on:** September 10, 2011, 07:06:59 AM »

Writing of magazines, there are some very good ones, like Smithsonian to which I subscribe. But, I've never enjoyed a magazine as much as Bookmarks. It's one of the few I read "cover to cover".

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #2210 on:** September 10, 2011, 10:56:51 AM »

Glad you're on my team, JimNT. Bookmarks was the "find of my life", and it is one that I also read from cover to cover. Everything stops when the postman brings it, and I sit down to read it.

pedln · « **Reply #2211 on:** September 10, 2011, 11:02:37 AM »

Yay, Bookmarks. I've loved it, ever since Andrea/ALF introduced me to it, and I also give a birthday subscription each year to DIL.

JimNT · « **Reply #2212 on:** September 11, 2011, 10:17:14 AM »

I just read a review rated five stars in the pub I was reading. I'm not ordinarily influenced by ratings but I seldom see a five starer. It's titled The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. The review was lengthy and very informative. While I'm an avid baseball fan and not averse to reading selected books about the game, this book is not about baseball. I'll be placing my Amazon order today. It appears to be a classic. If you are familiar with it, please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

JoanK · « **Reply #2213 on:** September 11, 2011, 07:31:36 PM »

CONGRATS, AUSSIES!

Good to see an Aussie tennis player winning a Grand Slam event!

roshanarose · « **Reply #2214 on:** September 11, 2011, 11:28:57 PM »

WOW - I didn't even know until you told me JoanK. She beat the giant killer. ONYA SAM!!!

Thinking about all of you on such a tragic anniversary. Vale.

Gumtree · « **Reply #2215 on:** September 12, 2011, 05:08:10 AM »

JoanK: Just lookit Sam go!

JoanP · « **Reply #2216 on:** September 12, 2011, 08:27:37 AM »

I came in this morning to let you know that the vote for an in-depth book discussion in November ended in a three-way tie:
The Elephant's Journey, Ship of Fools and two novellas by Eudora Welty: The Optimist's Daughter and The Ponder Heart.
We'll need to do a run-off vote to determine what it will be. Thank you for your help with this - November really isn't that far away. The vote is open through September 19[/b]

REMEMBER, once in, you must vote in order for your vote to be counted. If you need more information about these titles, there is a link to a review of each one in the heading of the Suggestion Box.

VOTE HERE

mabel1015j · « **Reply #2217 on:** September 12, 2011, 01:55:44 PM »

I was stunned when i heard the commentator say that this was the first Aussie to win since Margaret Court in '73!

JoanK · « **Reply #2218 on:** September 13, 2011, 03:42:24 PM »

"this was the first Aussie to win since Margaret Court in '73!"

The phrase was more narrow than that. The first Aussie (or aussie woman) to win the US Open. When did Pat Raafter win Wimbledon? Goolagong won Wimblrdon, too.

Frybabe · « **Reply #2219 on:** September 13, 2011, 11:22:40 PM »

I've just run across a remarkable sounding book called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Has anyone read it? It is now on my wish list. The customer reviews make it sound sooooo enticing.

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0385534639/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315969931&sr=1-15

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #2220 on:** September 13, 2011, 11:49:19 PM »

My copy came this evening - Random House did a terrific job of promotion and the book sounds divine - an adult fantasy - I'm hoping something on the order of the movie The Fall or Heath Ledger's last movie The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

I did like the cover for the British release more than the one for the US - Look isn't the Brit's cover just grand...The Night Circus

Gumtree · « **Reply #2221 on:** September 14, 2011, 04:17:04 AM »

Quote

"this was the first Aussie to win since Margaret Court in '73!"

JoanK:
Yep -Sam's the first Aussie girl to win since Marg Court/Smith - Goolagong won Wimbledon twice and the French too as well as numerous doules and Mixed doubles Slams but never won the US.
Pat Rafter won the US twice but didn't win Wimbledon - he was twice runner-up.
And that's more than anyone wants to know.

Babi · « **Reply #2222 on:** September 14, 2011, 08:31:32 AM »

Shades of Charlotte Heyer! That really lovely cover made me think of her immediately. I do
hope both of you will report back when you've gotten into the book.

JoanK · « **Reply #2223 on:** September 14, 2011, 06:48:58 PM »

GUM: thanks: I had it backward in my memory.

To celebrate you Aussies, I have finally put away the wonderful jigsaw puzzle Rosemary sent me (an old map of England which had been sitting on my puzzle table since I worked it, it's so much fun to look at) and stsarted a new puzzle: "100 kangeroos and a boomerang".

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #2224 on:** September 15, 2011, 01:51:29 AM »

Well that sounds easy Joan

- at least you should be able to find the boomerang....

Gumtree · « **Reply #2225 on:** September 15, 2011, 04:56:38 AM »

JoanK: That's a crazy jigsaw - I just googled for it and tried to find the boomerang - watch it - some of those 'roo tails look just like a boomerang.

JoanK · « **Reply #2226 on:** September 15, 2011, 03:51:54 PM »

Exactly! I've looked and looked at the picture and can't find it. Maybe when I get the puzzle worked. I have another one: "100 elephants and a mouse" and I STILL cant see the mouse!

JeanneP · « **Reply #2227 on:** September 15, 2011, 05:05:52 PM »

Michael Hart. Inventor of the E-Book.

Here I am living in Urbana, Illinois and having to read this artical in a UK Paper.

Going to copy it and send to our local paper asking why they did not print it.

Getting tired of reading nothing but what is going on in the Mideast all the time.

Is there no other news to be had.?

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #2228 on:** September 15, 2011, 05:43:02 PM »

the news isn't news any more - it is one giant ad campaign for whatever political viewpoint is being sold to us. Plus that I have read at least 6 articles and attended a couple of workshops that all say the Boomers are in a deep funk and have been for over ten years - with most Boomers at the top of their profession it is likely we are getting their viewpoint which according to these articles is the lowest outlook of any other generation.

Here are a couple of the articles

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/880/baby-boomers-the-gloomiest-generation

http://www.aging.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=2133&textonly=1

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #2229 on:** September 16, 2011, 10:43:56 PM »

About half way through reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - it is a fantasy and a mystery and a love story and a coming of age story, even cruelty and the most amazing description of characters - all that and yet, I am not seeing it as a book to center a discussion around - one bit that is introduced in the beginning is the concept that everything is energy and there are some special folks who are more than a typical Circus conjurers of magic -

That is part of the mystery - who or what are they - of course in every other way act like normal folks but the amazing feat is they can use the energy in the universe to cure - Now I understand healing but curing - Holy Hannah - that is when I know I am in the realm of fantasy -

At one point in the story all her finger tips are sliced and using her practiced powers she not only heals them but cures to the point there is no scare or evidence of any damage - talk about a dream that we would all wish could be true. And then to top it off a competing magician or whatever they are that have this powers has a bet where he takes a 9 year old boy from an orphanage and teaches him the same use of energy to perform equal wonders.

The story is so filled with marvelous descriptions that it is part of wanting to know what will be described next as well as, wanting to learn how these folks attained these powers and who will fall in love - and then there are many other characters with equally interesting abilities that reminds me of what the Cirque du Soleil is as compared to an old fashioned circus.

An enchanting book but again, maybe someone else will have a different take but I do not see it having a theme other than focusing a discussion on our belief in energy and if we believe we could learn to use the energy of the universe to our advantage. Although, I am thinking isn't that the basis for the Christian Scientist's prayer - but I do not know if their prayer is to heal or cure. Does anyone know?

Steph · « **Reply #2230 on:** September 17, 2011, 06:18:40 AM »

Judy,, I do love the
Evanovich books..At least the Stephanie Plum ones, although I just did Wicked Appetite and her new heroine is fun as well.
The Forgotten Garden. I think it is the back and forth making me dizzy.. She does not handle these well, and yet I do like parts of the book, which is what is making me read a bit and then put it away for a while.. On my trip.. would you believe 32 people.. four IPADS and at least 6 ebooks.. One couple has two, one for each of them.. It was fun on the bus. One of the others uses her IPAD as a venue for her pictures and has something that allows her to download each day. What fun to look at yesterdays pictures with her..

Babi · « **Reply #2231 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:02:19 AM »

BARB, I don't think I've ever considered before that there would be a difference between
'heal' and 'cure'. Other, of course, than that heal can only be used as a verb. Well, now
you've given me something to think about. (Won't be the first time. )

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #2232 on:** September 17, 2011, 10:33:48 AM »

Like one of my friends who has arthritis - she sometimes has a flair up that with meds can heal and with therapy she can even keep at bay the after affects of the recent demise of her condition - however, that healing does not cure her of arthritis - it is chronic - and I guess there are some folks in the world who really believe they can cure - you hear about it in stories from folks who visit special holy places - so it must be possible - maybe I have never believed so grand

Judy Laird · « **Reply #2233 on:** September 17, 2011, 02:59:22 PM »

Jim NT sorrry to be so long to answer your post 2212. I have not heard of the Art of Fielding and do hope some of the others may be kind enough to give you their opinion.
Judy

Steph · « **Reply #2234 on:** September 18, 2011, 05:58:59 AM »

Interesting..Since I have high blood pressure and have since my early 30's, I know how I struggled with I could keep it under control, but there is no cure.. That was hard to deal with then. Now I am used to it and just faithfully take my pills, stay away from salt and exercise..

Babi · « **Reply #2235 on:** September 18, 2011, 08:43:33 AM »

The more I thought about heal/cure, the more I realized that I separate them on an entirely
different basis. Wounds are healed; diseases are cured. Successfully controlling symptoms
is simply a remission of something that still remains and will return...as we all know too well.

ANNIE · « **Reply #2236 on:** September 18, 2011, 09:28:56 AM »

JimNT,
The Art of Fielding did not get very good reviews and here's a link to many of the reviews that I read.
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=the+art+of+fielding+chad+harbach&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

You might want to read them.[/b]

JimNT · « **Reply #2237 on:** September 18, 2011, 10:04:04 AM »

Thank you, Judy. I bought the book but haven't started it yet as I still have less than half of Freedom to read. Speaking of which, I find Freedom very depressing but I'm one of those "nut" cases who must finish every book I begin. For those who've read Freedom, I have two questions: Is Patty's character portrayal typical feminine behavior to the circumstances in which the author has created (Maybe "typical" isn't the right word?)? and Is the autobiographer Patty? I recognize that the book is fiction but it's not fantasy. Does Franzen know what he's talking about?

pedln · « **Reply #2238 on:** September 18, 2011, 11:27:24 PM »

Jim, I'm so glad to see you mention Freedom. I'm reading it now, also, but you sound like you're farther along than I am. I've just finished the "autobiography" and am now into the following section with Richard and Patty at the vacation house. I really liked the first section, the happy Berland family, etc. etc. But then came the autobiography, and I assume Patty is the "autobiographer." And you're right, it is depressing, and the main character is a total mess.

I had it from the library, then bought it for my Kindle because it was really big and hard to read in bed and I had a couple holds coming from the library. Am reading other stuff now too, so it appears I'll get my Freedom in small doses. I'm not a nut case about finishing except for books I've bought at the publisher list price.

Patty is not like anyone I know. She is uniquely a mess.

Steph · « **Reply #2239 on:** September 19, 2011, 05:46:16 AM »

Finally gave up on the Kate Morton.. Just too many over and over retellings..

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776288 times)