Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776117 times)

Steph · « **Reply #440 on:** March 16, 2010, 06:28:30 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

Read both of the Jeanette Wall books. I loved them. But the abuses built into our system with uncaring parents is amazing.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #441 on:** March 16, 2010, 12:20:30 PM »

steph I read the Glass Castle book some time ago and loved it. I still can't believe some of those things. wWonderful book
I have Half Broke Horses on my Kindle and will read it soon.

WOW whocould believe things like that occured I loved it.

Steph · « **Reply #442 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:44:26 AM »

Judy,,, still workin on the Mexican train stuff. Why oh why did I listen to you..
Just finished a fairly new Maeve Binchy.. I do like her for quiet calm sort of stories..Only Irish author I read.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #443 on:** March 17, 2010, 01:41:10 PM »

Mexican dominos its like a virus you will never be rid of it . hehe

Thought I needed a change a pace so I read Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah and it was a great story and I really loved it.

Yesterday I called the Kindle people and fessed up that when I bought my kindle a year ago the dog bit through the covering and left three little teeth prints on the left side. He is still alive because it wasn't broken. Now it is starting to crack in those little places. Upstart of my call I am receiving a new Kindle today and the postage is also free.
can't beat those kindle people.

Nex t I will dive into Greg Illes

maryz · « **Reply #444 on:** March 17, 2010, 02:09:29 PM »

Good to know about your Kindle, Judy.

Mexican Train is definitely a chronic disease. I hope we get to play it with real people at the beach again in July.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #445 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:32:50 PM »

Us too! Mexican Train and beach in May..............and books, of course..............jean

salan · « **Reply #446 on:** March 17, 2010, 06:22:50 PM »

Judy, I read Firefly Lane some time back. I really enjoyed it and plan to read more of Kristin Hannah.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #447 on:** March 18, 2010, 06:16:12 AM »

I read a Kristen Hannah many years ago.. Have to remember to look her up again.
Is this a generic beach or are the Bookies planning a trip.. I had so much fun the winter beach trip years ago.

maryz · « **Reply #448 on:** March 18, 2010, 11:05:01 AM »

Our beach trip is a long-term (more than 25 years) family and friends get-together. We go to an area near Gulf Shores, AL - would love to have you, Steph. Somebody is ALWAYS reading. Our folks come from Delaware and Texas (and maybe even CA and CO). And we do a book swap, too. Left-over books come home with us to go into the library book sale or to the local used book store for exchanges.

marcie · « **Reply #449 on:** March 18, 2010, 11:40:05 AM »

Salan, the LIBRARY discussion is a place where we can talk about anything, including any fiction that we're reading or want to recommend. This FICTION discussion is dedicated to fiction books and is one of the "genre" topics, along with NONFICTION, MYSTERY, SCIENCE FICTION, etc. Our conversations do sometimes overlap :-)

salan · « **Reply #450 on:** March 18, 2010, 01:01:32 PM »

I just finished Half Broke Horses. It was a quick easy read. I thought it was just so-so, but it did keep me interested enough to finish. I am starting Same Kind of Different as Me. It is April's selection for my ftf book club. Have any of you read it, and what did you think?

We just discussed Edgar Sawtelle. Only eight members were present and no one liked it. It lead to a lively discussion in spite of the fact that we all agreed.
Sally

JoanK · « **Reply #451 on:** March 18, 2010, 09:44:18 PM »

In my f2f book club, we've found that the discussion is much better when we DON'T like the book.

Steph · « **Reply #452 on:** March 19, 2010, 05:49:14 AM »

I love it.. Book discussions being better whenyou dont like the book. I remember in the old senior learn, we discussed Edna St. Vincent Millay and we loved her poetry and hated the person she turned out to be.. Great discussion.

salan · « **Reply #453 on:** March 19, 2010, 06:14:31 AM »

Joan, It is true that usually discussions are better with members disagree. Nevertheless, we found a lot to discuss that we didn't like and our reasons for it!
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #454 on:** March 19, 2010, 11:09:54 PM »

I see that Sunday night at 9 on the SciFi channel they are showing King Arthur w/ Clive Owen and Keira Knightley............fyi ..........jean

Steph · « **Reply #455 on:** March 20, 2010, 06:07:52 AM »

I may peep into the Arthur and see if I like that version.

Gumtree · « **Reply #456 on:** March 20, 2010, 09:20:41 AM »

Thanks Jean. Haven't seen the Keira Knightley one but we don't get the same programme so won't be watching with you.

Steph · « **Reply #457 on:** March 21, 2010, 06:10:00 AM »

I was digging around to read something different and ran on an older book that I have never read. It is nonfiction as it turns out.. But a brand new wife joins her husband in Iran in the 50's or 60's and lives in a tiny village. He is there doing work on his doctorate. I have just started and she decided to wear the womans all covering garment since when she didnt, everyone stared and pointed. I think I see her point, but would have hated it.

salan · « **Reply #458 on:** March 23, 2010, 04:04:38 PM »

I just finished reading "Roses" by Leila Meacham. I really enjoyed it and read it quickly in spite of it being 600 plus pages. When I saw how big the book was, I almost didn't check it out. It's been a long time since I read a book that big. Big heavy hardbacks are a little hard to manage now that I am beginning to have arthritis in my hands.
Thanks to those of you that recommended this book. I will add my recommendation to the list. However, I am not sure that it would make a good discussion book. What do you think? Is there enough in it to provide a month long in depth discussion?

I am now reading Joan Medlicott's latest "Covington" book. I am enjoying it; but beginning to tire a little of this series. I really liked her earlier ones better.
Sally

CallieOK · « **Reply #459 on:** March 23, 2010, 07:39:30 PM »

Sally, what's the title of Joan Medlicott's latest? I've enjoyed the series but also think it's gone on just about long enough. (That won't stop me from keeping up with it, though

mrssherlock · « **Reply #460 on:** March 23, 2010, 10:25:42 PM »

Sally: I loved the Ladies of Covington, too, but have taken a break. After a while I can pick up the series and may enjoy it again.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/search/?searchfor=book&keywords=ladies+of+covington

serenesheila · « **Reply #461 on:** March 23, 2010, 11:36:27 PM »

I thorouly enjoyed "The Covington" books. Now, that I am old, I look for books, movies and TV programs about elderly people. There are several channels for the young, but none that I have found for me and my peers. Sighhhhhhhh

Can any of you reccomend books about our age group? I am in the midst of reading "Roses", and am enjoying it. But, mainly I have been reading non fiction. I enjoy the period of the early 20th century. I have just begun reading "Those Troublesome Young Men". The discussion of this book begins April 1st. We could use some more participants.

Sheila

Steph · « **Reply #462 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:44:32 AM »

The Mrs. Pollifax series is about an older woman and spies.. Funny type.. There are several detective series that are about older people.. Try one of the links to mysteries..
James Michener wrote a book about a retirement village some years ago. Cannot remember the title, but it was good, a bit long winded, but then he always was.

salan · « **Reply #463 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:49:46 AM »

Callie and Jackie, The latest Medlicott is Promise of Change. She also had one published around Christmas, titled Blue & Gray Christmas. I really enjoyed Blue & Gray Christmas. Promise is not as good--a little "too" much at times.

Sheila, I know what you mean about reading something "appropriate" for our age group. I get tired of reading/watching about 20/30 somethings. Some books that I have enjoyed are Jeanne Ray's "Step, Ball, Change", "Year of Pleasures" by Elizabeth Berg. All of Sandra Dallas' books, and most of Lee Smith's books. I am sure there are others, but can't think of any off hand. When I find an author that I like, I tend to read everything and then burn myself out on them. Do any of you do that?
Sally

salan · « **Reply #464 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:51:00 AM »

Steph, We were posting at the same time. I had forgotten about Mrs. Pollifax. I enjoyed reading those.
Sally

Babi · « **Reply #465 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:58:27 AM »

I enjoyed the 'Covington' series, too, SALLY. In fact I introduced them
to my library. But after a time, they lost their charm for me, too.
I sometimes think an author extends a series too far due to it's success,
with the result that in order to come up with new story ideas, they lose
strengths that made the earlier ones so good.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #466 on:** March 24, 2010, 10:05:05 AM »

My sister told me about Lumby, Washington, the home of The Lumby Lines newspaper. A small town, Lumby citizens are unique and quirky. The basic story, a couple who retire and move to Lumby to open an inn in the old monastery they want to restore, is enhanced by items from the newspaper, told soberly, which had me laughing out loud. The story is not told linearly but in bits and pieces as the town reveals its true wonder to we readers. I mentioned this before and one reader didn't enjoy it as I did but if you are in the mood for a few laughs and a "feel good" story about folks who are past their prime, give this series a try. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/gail-fraser/lumby-lines.htm

CallieOK · « **Reply #467 on:** March 24, 2010, 11:14:22 AM »

Sally, thank you for the Covington title. I do the same thing - try to read everything an author writes and get burned out before he/she does.

The main character of Carolyn Hart's "Henri O" mysteries is a spunky older woman. I haven't seen any new ones listed for quite a while but enjoyed the ones I've read.

"Golden Roamers" by Frances Weaver is an hilarious tale of a group of Senior Home residents who "borrow" a bus and travel the country. It's not a new book so may be hard to find.

JoanK · « **Reply #468 on:** March 24, 2010, 03:35:00 PM »

The "Mrs Polifax" books you all mentioned are by Dorothy Gilman. I love them too.

salan · « **Reply #469 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:50:32 PM »

Jackie, I bought the first "Lumby Lines" book (used from Amazon) after you mentioned it. I really enjoyed it. Our library doesn't carry any of them; so I will need to purchase others if I want to continue.
Sally

mabel1015j · « **Reply #470 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:27:50 PM »

I've been reading Pillars of the Earth for about 6 mos..........now, i must admit that it is a book i own and i tend to pick up the library books first when i go to bed at night, because they have a dead line. However, i've been reading mostly cozy mysteries lately and as i got tired of them, i pick up PotE..........i must admit that i'm at the part where there's a long, long segment on Kingsbridge and Tom Builder's family which i find much more compelling than the wars betwn STephen and Maude. I know that a lot of people tho't it was a great book, but it hasn't been compelling to me thru most of it............and it has a little more of the "romance" genre than i expected - girl refuses boy, girl accepts boy, girl refuses boy for principle...........Oh Me!........jean

Steph · « **Reply #471 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:29:50 AM »

I read one of the Lumby Lines and loved it, but have yet to find any more..

salan · « **Reply #472 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:37:48 AM »

Steph, I ordered my Lumby Lines from Amazon. I got it for one penny plus $3.99 for shipping. $4.00 total-not bad imo. I plan to order more if my library doesn't order them for me.
Sally

JoanK · « **Reply #473 on:** March 25, 2010, 03:05:17 PM »

Good idea, salan. I splurged, and for $2.37 plus shipping ($6.36), I got a new copy. They had several titles: I assumed "The Lumbly Lines" was the first.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #474 on:** March 25, 2010, 05:02:40 PM »

FYI: Lumby website: http://www.lumbybooks.com/home.php

Steph · « **Reply #475 on:** March 26, 2010, 01:30:54 PM »

I may check out Amazon. They are always good for older stuff.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #476 on:** March 27, 2010, 02:31:03 PM »

I got the Lumby book on my kindle

Looks Good.

Steph · « **Reply #477 on:** March 28, 2010, 06:15:49 AM »

Just heard from my paperback swap. Lumby Lines is on its way.

Babi · « **Reply #478 on:** March 28, 2010, 08:53:22 AM »

I've just about decided. I think during my next library book sale I'm going to pick up a few
paperback books to read, just so I will have something to offer in Paperback Swap. There are
often older books I would like to read and simply can't find in the libraries any more.

Steph · « **Reply #479 on:** March 29, 2010, 06:01:25 AM »

Paperback swap takes hard cover, paperback, audios, and trade size.. They just started out with paperbacks, but have since branched out. They tell you what the book is.. Audios are two points in a trade. I love it.. I have a basket full of books.. When I read one, I put it back into the trade, along with anything else around. They ask that books be in good condition.. not necessarily new, but intact with covers etc.

News:

Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776117 times)