Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776404 times)

Babi · « **Reply #3360 on:** July 17, 2012, 08:43:11 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

Sounds good, JEAN,..right up my alley. I'll add him to my list.

marjifay · « **Reply #3361 on:** July 17, 2012, 11:19:10 AM »

Thanks, Frybabe. I checked out at Amazon your recommendation of Hoving's King of the Confessors, and it looks very good! I put in on my TBR list.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #3362 on:** July 18, 2012, 08:46:07 AM »

Hoving wrote well. Did a good job for the museum as well, but possibly did not check provenance as well as he should have.

Frybabe · « **Reply #3363 on:** July 18, 2012, 09:09:41 AM »

Someone mentioned, a while back, in one of the forums that she was reading The Quality of Mercy. Since I had downloaded that a week or so ago, I decided to start on it also. I really love the descriptive writing of these earlier writers. Back then they were more careful to describe the background scenery than they appear to do today in many cases.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3364 on:** July 18, 2012, 10:28:20 AM »

Frybabe, I agree - but I think it's because publishers tell writers they want action, action, action. An author told me that her publisher (of crime books) said that if there wasn't a murder by the end of the third page, the book would fail.

I'm sorry to sound like a Grumpy Old Lady (yet again

but I do think the fast response speeds of text, Facebook, etc etc mean that many people no longer have the patience to enjoy good description, scene setting, etc. One of the things I didn't like about Charlaine Harris's Aurora Teagarden books was the lack of the latter - I couldn't really visualise anything. Louise Penny, however, manages to paint Three Pines so well that we all want to live there (if only with a bodyguard...)

Rosemary

Babi · « **Reply #3365 on:** July 19, 2012, 08:39:43 AM »

Yes, that's Barry Unsworth, FRYBABE. I am reading him for the first time, also, and
finding it very enjoyable.

You could be right, ROSEMARY. In a day of high-speed computers, instant and almost
continuous contact by phone or text, the entire generation may be losing it's ability to relax
and enjoy the quiet moments, and notice there is a beautiful world out there.

Steph · « **Reply #3366 on:** July 19, 2012, 09:00:52 AM »

The gift of calm and enjoying nature is what I am getting by my sojourn in the mountains. I have slowed down to a crawl. Not accomplishing much, but enjoying my life so much more.

Babi · « **Reply #3367 on:** July 19, 2012, 09:08:52 AM »

Good for you, STEPH. If not now, when can we?

marjifay · « **Reply #3368 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:39:58 AM »

Re Barry Unsworth-- I'm reading his SACRED HUNGER along with another group and finding it very good.

Has anyone read his PASCALI'S ISLAND? I own it, but have yet to read it.

Marj

Judy Laird · « **Reply #3369 on:** July 19, 2012, 02:22:04 PM »

I don't know if it was mentioned or not but on our first trip to New York in 1998 Thomas Hoving was our author. We met him on the grounds of the muesum and had lunch where he signed all our books and was very kind.
Then he took us on a private guided tour of the museum and the cross. It was a wonderful day.
He had not been to the musuem for 20 years.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3370 on:** July 20, 2012, 01:07:11 AM »

My daughter left for home on Tuesday I buried myself an some books - read The Uncommon Reader - cute - also a good expose about the growth we have in reading and the ability we have to read some books only after we have been reading for awhile. It is a Novella and easily completed in one sitting.

It is about the Queen of England going after her wayward dogs only to come upon the weekly traveling library parked near the kitchen at Windsor - she enters, meets a young boy from her kitchen staff who is a prolific reader - they befriend and he becomes her guide into books much to the chagrin of her other staff. Her journey into the world of books brings about incidents that she handles with new insight - fun and a good description of various authors that even gave me a push to read their work.

But then the real winner - I could not put the book down - took two days to read - what a treat - I just had to know what was going to happen next - the story is enchanting yet, powerful - I saw it as a story of Hope, Faith and Love in a setting focused in raw nature described in its beauty as well as, the life and seasonal cycle that depends on death. The characters in the story are easy to know and like while feeling their joys and pain.

One of the best I have read in awhile - here is a link to the home page of the author, Eowyn Ivey - her first book - The Snow Child - http://www.eowynivey.com/

Babi · « **Reply #3371 on:** July 20, 2012, 08:20:02 AM »

Sounds good, BARB. I wonder if my library has it. I remember "Uncommon Reader".
I was amused by her dodging of the staff to enjoy the books.

Steph · « **Reply #3372 on:** July 20, 2012, 08:56:22 AM »

I have another about the royal family called
Queen Camilla. It is about the socialists taking over th country and the royal family moved to row housing.Very funny actually. Charles loved it, the rest of te group, not so much.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3373 on:** July 20, 2012, 12:03:13 PM »

Just finished a Dorothea Benton Frank book, Pawley's Island. A very enjoyable read. It was predictable, but humorous, well-paced, very much the typical Frank family-relationship-story set in the Carolinas w/ S Carolina a "character" in the story. I read a couple chapters the first night and finished the book the second night, a compelling read.

Two middle age women, strangers to each other at first, discover that their lives have similarities. One, a lawyer, who, because of some tragic circumstances, has "retired" from the profession. The other woman has recently been served divorce papers by a husband who had become a person she didn't "know" in the last two years and turned her children against her and had had a judge award their house and custody of their teen-age children to him. Abigail, the lawyer, smells a rat and begins to check out the husband. There are assorted quirky Sourhern personalities who add humor. It is predictable, but entertaining nonetheless.

I've read 4 or 5 of hers and have especially enjoyed Sullivan Island and Shem Creek.
Jean

CallieOK · « **Reply #3374 on:** July 20, 2012, 03:07:23 PM »

My Book Swap group has included a Dorothea Benton Franks novel for the past two years. I liked her earlier books - and have enjoyed the more current ones - "Low Country Summer" and "Porch Lights", her newest.

Barb, when I first started "The Uncommon Reader", I thought the premise was ridiculous. However, having watched most of this summer's PBS programs about Queen Elizabeth, I think her discovering the traveling library near the kitchen door might not be such a remote possibility. I liked the story.

After she returned from a family vacation at Hilton Head, a neighbor loaned me two of her "beach books", "Eat Cake" and "The Peach Keeper".
Has anyone read either or both of these?

salan · « **Reply #3375 on:** July 20, 2012, 05:21:40 PM »

Callie, I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) The Peach Keeper. I like all the Sarah Addison Allen books I have read.
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #3376 on:** July 20, 2012, 06:52:40 PM »

I'm reading Claude and Camille, a novel about Claude and Camille Monet. Today in my Open Culture newsletter they had this amazing link to a movie clip of him from 1915. The video is so clear a d the narrative is interesting.

http://www.openculture.com/2012/07/rare_film_claude_monet_at_work_in_his_famous_garden_at_giverny_1915.html

Jean

Babi · « **Reply #3377 on:** July 21, 2012, 08:25:44 AM »

Alas, no Ivey at my library. I don't think they are doing much purchasing while they
are in the middle of construction work. Once things settle down, I'll recommend it.
Now I'll go check on the two new authors you ladies have so kindly added to my list.

Steph · « **Reply #3378 on:** July 21, 2012, 08:35:52 AM »

Ilike Pat Conroy better than Dorothea Benton Franks for South Carolina ambience..But she writes a nice sort of story..I think of her as a beach writer.

maryz · « **Reply #3379 on:** July 21, 2012, 10:10:50 AM »

Pat Conroy's latest (I think) novel, South of Broad, is a love letter to Charleston.

(n.b. Our oldest daughter lives in SC, her three children are graduates of the College of Charleston, and one still lives there.)

MaryPage · « **Reply #3380 on:** July 21, 2012, 10:13:42 AM »

Barbara, I trust your taste absolutely, so I have just put The Snow Child by Ivey on my Wish List at Barnes and Noble. Will order it when I have done a little catching up around here.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3381 on:** July 21, 2012, 11:08:39 AM »

My goodness - but I do not think you will be disappointed - to me the book has depth and likable characters. The culture of neighborliness in the story strikes close to how we think of ourselves. There is friendship shared among two women and the love between a couple approaching their white hair years - all supporting the center about this wonderful fairy like child of nature. The animals and flora of the earth, fields wrestled from the wilderness, mountains, rivers, snow, rain and wind are wonderfully included and woven into the story - It is a story that makes an impression with many metaphors to Hope, Faith and Love. Yes, the book is a keeper that I may dip into again.

JoanK · « **Reply #3382 on:** July 21, 2012, 02:20:37 PM »

We discussed "The Uncommon Reader" here on Seniornet a while ago. A lovely book.

I loved the Monet! I love the site! From there, went into other painting videos, into "Lifechanging books" and ordered some for my kindle.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #3383 on:** July 22, 2012, 08:33:40 AM »

Thanks for the recommendations re Dorothea Benton Frank - I'd never heard of her, but now I've even found some of her books on our library catalogue and reserved one.

What great things we discover on this site.

The Uncommon Reader is a lovely read - I like everything Alan Bennett's ever written, and this is one of his best IMO.

Rosemary

Babi · « **Reply #3384 on:** July 22, 2012, 08:48:15 AM »

My library does not have Franks, sadly, but they do have Sarah Allen, including the
Peach Keeper.

Steph · « **Reply #3385 on:** July 22, 2012, 09:35:55 AM »

I am finally reading The Good Thiefs Guide to Amsterdam. Someone recommended it here some time ago.. I love it.. A perceptive sense of humor..A mystery of sorts.

Babi · « **Reply #3386 on:** July 23, 2012, 08:09:11 AM »

Read a couple of those. The author has a series, taking his writer/thief to different
cities.

Steph · « **Reply #3387 on:** July 23, 2012, 08:52:59 AM »

I liked the Amsterdam one and will look for more. The ending was a bit contrived, but thats OK>>

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #3388 on:** July 23, 2012, 09:56:55 PM »

For everything you ever wanted or did not even know about to want to know about the Towers of London - who was beheaded, drawn, drowned, became a ghost etc. plus the multiplicity of other details on English History The Tower, The Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart is the read... I picked it because it was suggested as humorous - weeelllll - yes, there is humor but the main theme is pit tummy sadness - a couple who thought they would never have a child - who were very much in love since their first meeting - have a late life child who dies at age 11 and most of the story is how they cope or do not cope - while reading, the tears rolled - where as, no laughter erupted -

It is advertised as poignant - for me that is a mild word to describe the story - oh, there are other characters that exhibit a crazy life but, even some of that nonsense is laced with an underlying sadness.

Hard to explain because it isn't a sad book and the story is bright and moving in a quirky way including a Chaplin who writes award winning erotic novels under the guise of a female pseudonym using the proceeds to fund a shelter for prostitutes wanting a new life and the Queen's zoo animals that are re-caged in the Towers after an absence of 60 or more years causing all sorts of pandemonium. and the wife of the main character working in the London Underground Lost and Found with the most unusual astonishing things lost - I am glad I read it - the history included was riveting however, expect to shed some tears.

http://tinyurl.com/cf36xo5

Babi · « **Reply #3389 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:40:36 AM »

I read that one, BARB. It did introduce a strange way of life, didn't it? All these people living
on-site at the tower, very much thrown together. Yet all have their own unique stories. At
times the writing ranged from humorous to mystical; a very interesting book.

Steph · « **Reply #3390 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:40:45 AM »

Still have too mny problems with unexpected death, so will not try it. I do love the Tower though. Such a neat place.. And the retired guards are sooo enthusiastic.

bellemere · « **Reply #3391 on:** July 24, 2012, 01:10:06 PM »

Here's a strange one: i was in a Barnes and Noble store, about to download
Ship of Fools, which you all read recently and I couldn't join. i found that this great novel by Katherine Ann Porter is not in the ebook collection of Barnes and Noble! the (young) associate had never heard of it. He suggested I write to the publisher, who may have not given the rights to reproduce it electronically. So if any of you have your copy handy, let me know the name of the publisher, and I will write. What a bummer! I wa all set to enjoy it , a reread after many years

A new Yorker article describes the late Mavis Gallant, another long gone treasure, and her days of starvation in Madrid waiting for her agent to forward the payments for some stories published in the New Yorker. the agent was a real crook, and was not sending her the pay me payments! . she was a wonderful writer, one of those who helped make that magazine so great.

maryz · « **Reply #3392 on:** July 24, 2012, 01:42:39 PM »

bellemere, even if you have a Nook and can't buy from there, look on the Amazon web site for Ship of Fools. That should give you all the information you need.

salan · « **Reply #3393 on:** July 24, 2012, 05:45:09 PM »

I read The Tower..... Did not like it at all. It was too depressing and couldn't hold my interest. It was not at all what I expected. Strange book.
Sally

bellemere · « **Reply #3394 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:08:01 PM »

thanks, Maryz, I flooowed up on amazon, which lists the publisher, one I have never heard of : Amereon. the date is given as 1994, and I know it was first published in 1943, but I guess this outfit now holds the rights. And Amazon is urging people to "write to the publisher and tell them you would like to read this book on a Kindle" So they don't have it for sale either. Strange.

jane · « **Reply #3395 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:12:12 PM »

Bellemere...there appear to be quite a few older titles that aren't in digital format yet. Part of it, I think, is that the old contracts with authors and publishers didn't include "digital rights" and so the publishers are having to negotiate new financial contracts with authors/estates who may hold the rights to a title. I know this is what I was told by an author when I asked about when her earlier works would be available for the Nook. It took many months to iron it out, and she said it was the rights and payments, of course, for the digital rights.

jane

Frybabe · « **Reply #3396 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:15:51 PM »

Amazon has a form to fill out if you want something converted to digital. I am not sure if they just pass them on to the publishers individually or if they wait awhile to see if they get very many requests before contacting the publishers. Does B&N have something similar on their site?

jane · « **Reply #3397 on:** July 24, 2012, 09:19:25 PM »

Yes, Frybabe. There's a place you can click under a description of a book and it says something like "request a digital /ebook from the publisher." You just click it and then it says that the publisher has been notified.

jane

Steph · « **Reply #3398 on:** July 25, 2012, 08:43:50 AM »

Its interesting .. You never think of authors rights and the ebooks.. But of course it makes sense.. I am told that certain tv shows cannot be converted to DVD.. Same reason..

Dana · « **Reply #3399 on:** July 25, 2012, 12:44:44 PM »

oh....Alan Bennett...I recently watched some of his tv pieces...several episodes of Talking Heads...an Englishman Abroad....something about Proust (can't remember what it was called)....I do like his style. Haven't read any books tho.

A reason I have not bothered to get a kindle/nook is in fact that when I last checked on several books I wanted to read, they were not available. It seems at this time only new books and books out of copyright are readily available. If you want something by someone like Pearl S Buck, or Evelyn Waugh or Paul Scott or EF Benson etc etc , they may not be, although I have noticed that availability is gradually getting better.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776404 times)