Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776199 times)

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #960 on:** September 10, 2010, 12:25:04 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

I am currently reading "Lucy" by Laurence Gonzalez. It is an interesting tale, but seems to me derivative of some other past fiction; i.e. "Green Mansions" and more currently "Nell" (which I'm not sure was a book, but a movie anyway). While I am semi-enjoying the book, there is something about the writing that is "not quite right". I'm not a literary critic so I can't voice exactly what seems wrong. The lead character's "voice"? The pace the book moves? Other than the fact that the premise seems to me to be highly unlikely, but in today's culture, maybe not. If anyone here has read it, please clue me in on what I'm feeling about this book.

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #961 on:** September 10, 2010, 01:20:40 PM »

Thought I would go to Amazon and see what kind of review they might have of this book. They had a Q & A with the author. However, it kind of sheds some light on what I was feeling about this book (in part) a blurb from Publisher's Weekly states:" but his underdeveloped characters are little more than one-dimensional mouthpieces for the viewpoints they espouse." Think that's part of my feelings.

Babi · « **Reply #962 on:** September 10, 2010, 08:25:48 PM »

I picked up a book like that once, TOMEREADER. Don't remember the title (why would I?), but
all the characters just seemed to be there for the purpose of making speeches expressing the
authors views. Tedious, to say the least.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #963 on:** September 10, 2010, 08:45:34 PM »

The Man Who Loved Jane Austen (Sally Smith O'Rourke) takes some liberties with JA's life but the result is quite charming.

Steph · « **Reply #964 on:** September 11, 2010, 05:51:02 AM »

My bedbook just now is TheQueens Fool by Philippa Gregory.. Interesting and a different slant on Queen Mary,daughter of Henry the viii.... Dont begin to understand how a young woman of this period was allowed to keep wearing male clothing at the court, even though she was clearly understood to be a female.

Babi · « **Reply #965 on:** September 11, 2010, 08:31:14 AM »

That's a new one to me, STEPH. I assume this is the younger Mary.
She seemed so rigid in her RC beliefs as Queen, and I don't think they
approved of women dressing as men!

mabel1015j · « **Reply #966 on:** September 11, 2010, 02:49:09 PM »

Elizabeth I dressed in men's uniforms when addressing and reviewing her troops. That book sounds like one for myDBR list.
Just finished " Bull's Island" by.........somebody......Frank...senior moment and i' on the iPad and haven't figured jout yet how to go to another site w/ out losing this one........I know one of you will fill me in.........

......Jean

mabel1015j · « **Reply #967 on:** September 11, 2010, 03:37:35 PM »

Dorethea Benton Frank.....i knew it would come back.....Jean

maryz · « **Reply #968 on:** September 11, 2010, 04:11:25 PM »

jean - DBR? (don't bother to read???)

Judy Laird · « **Reply #969 on:** September 11, 2010, 06:03:16 PM »

I am just finishing DBF The Land of Mango Sunset's and I loved it. Its about Sullivian's Island.

H ave a lot of time to lay around since I broke my ankle a couple of week's ago.

JoanK · « **Reply #970 on:** September 11, 2010, 10:23:17 PM »

JUDY: another broken ankle!! Join the club. I hope the healing process goes well.

marcie · « **Reply #971 on:** September 11, 2010, 10:45:34 PM »

I'm sorry to hear about your ankle, Judy. I hope you get a lot of good reading in.

Gumtree · « **Reply #972 on:** September 12, 2010, 02:43:35 AM »

Judy Laird - Hi haven't seen you in quite a while. Hope that ankle is not too painful. What bad luck -still now you can read all day long if you wish.

Steph · « **Reply #973 on:** September 12, 2010, 06:14:27 AM »

Oh Judy.. do be careful.. Ankles are such treacherous little items.
The book isnt bad.. Queens Fool.. Just a few oddities..

Aberlaine · « **Reply #974 on:** September 12, 2010, 07:55:39 AM »

I'm still listening to Book of Sighs on my iPod. Since I transferred that one, I've also downloaded Three Cups of Tea, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I'm going to Arkansas Tuesday to visit with my daughter. It feels great not to have to lug books around - only a small iPod.

Steph · « **Reply #975 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:16:01 AM »

I have several books downloaded into the IPAD, but also games. I had been going away for a week, but now that is off..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #976 on:** September 13, 2010, 12:51:49 PM »

Apple's new Itouch has some interesting features: http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/features/

mabel1015j · « **Reply #977 on:** September 13, 2010, 09:39:33 PM »

Steph - what games do you have on your iPad?

Steph · « **Reply #978 on:** September 14, 2010, 06:12:33 AM »

Solitaire...The little yellow man thing..a maze... bubbles///some sort of little dots you line up and eliminate....pinball.....labyrinthe....and a iq game that defeats me every time..All fun or either free or .99.
Did I mention that all of these years later I am reading Outlander.. Diane Gabaldon.. Odd..interesting.. a bit on the violent side, but still compelling.

Phyll · « **Reply #979 on:** September 14, 2010, 09:36:51 AM »

And addictive......

FlaJean · « **Reply #980 on:** September 14, 2010, 11:16:16 AM »

Another neat game for the iPad is Jumbline 2, a word game. Addictive! I have the free version.

Steph · « **Reply #981 on:** September 15, 2010, 05:58:06 AM »

Will look it up today on the free apps stuff.
Does anyone keep up with the Diane Gabaldon series. HOw many are there. I listened to Dragonfly in Amber, which seems to be the second book in the series and am reading the first one now..

Phyll · « **Reply #982 on:** September 15, 2010, 09:43:59 AM »

Steph, there are seven and they are all looooooong! I've read four of them but after a while I found I really didn't care what happened to those people anymore. So I quit.

CallieOK · « **Reply #983 on:** September 15, 2010, 01:37:31 PM »

I have read all of the Diana Gabaldon "Outlander" series. However, I skimmed through quite a bit after the third one. The crises that Jamie and Claire go through became repetitive! I think it's time for her to wind up this story.

BTW, I bought my copy of the first book in the gift shop at Culloden Battlefield in Scotland. The title is "Crossstitch"; apparently, "Outlander" is the USA title.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #984 on:** September 15, 2010, 07:21:05 PM »

Those of you who like word games may like ultimate word search. I found it in ipads apps, but I'm sure you could find it online. I find it great fun.......jean

mabel1015j · « **Reply #985 on:** September 15, 2010, 07:23:43 PM »

Oh, yeah, there are a whole bunch of ultimate word search sites in goggle.....jean

Steph · « **Reply #986 on:** September 16, 2010, 05:53:04 AM »

Seven... Good heavens,.All of Jamie and Claire. I am still staggering through the first one.. I will say the recorded version was easier to deal with.. May look for the third one in that sort of way.Too much torture in this one to make me happy.. Shame since the plot is interesting, but she does like torture a bit too much.

Aberlaine · « **Reply #987 on:** September 18, 2010, 04:48:18 PM »

I've just started "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet". It started off well, so I think I'm going to like it. I'm in Arkansas and I'm listening to it during the week when the girls are in school and my daughter is working.

I tried the first book in the Outlander series and couldn't finish it. Never tried the others.

Nancy

Steph · « **Reply #988 on:** September 19, 2010, 06:25:50 AM »

Almost done with The Queens Fool as my bed book. Did not like it as much as the other Philippa Gregory that I read..
I think that Diane Gabaldon is a good writer who needs a strong editor. Too much plot,, too much violence.

Babi · « **Reply #989 on:** September 19, 2010, 09:16:51 AM »

You may be right, STEPH, but Gabaldon is so popular it's not likely an editor is going to tamper
with success. I read three or four of those books, as best I remember, before I decided that
Jamie and Claire's life was too over-extended.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #990 on:** September 19, 2010, 03:03:44 PM »

I am reading Loving Frank,
I am sure most of you read it earlier but a friend gave it to me so I thought I would try it.
Too my surprise I am enjoying it. Its not my usual cup of tea but this being written from the misstress point of view is interesting.

She also gave me The Island by Victoria Hislop and I hope that is good as well.

Crazy weather here I think I am in Florida, the sun shines and its beautiful then it rains like crazy and its soo muggy, don't like it much.

Steph · « **Reply #991 on:** September 20, 2010, 06:07:57 AM »

Judy, read Loving Frank a few years back. It made me furious. I ended up throwing the book across the room. I just kept thinking of it from the wives point of view.. Also the fact that two marriages and a lot of children got injured by their selfishness.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #992 on:** September 20, 2010, 12:13:03 PM »

I lost all my respect for FLW and questioned his place as an American icon. Bow, on reflection, I try to separate the man from his work which still astounds me. I've never been caught up in sexual frenzy but pity those who do suffer from it, and I consider it suffering when there is no control. I can't imagine spending every waking moment in thrall to thoughts and fantasies about sex. Nowadays there are 12 step programs for those addicted to sex.

maryz · « **Reply #993 on:** September 20, 2010, 05:34:01 PM »

I try to separate the art created from the activities of the creator - sometimes it's harder than others.

joangrimes · « **Reply #994 on:** September 20, 2010, 08:10:32 PM »

I try to do the same Mary Z but sometimes it is very hard to do....I really dislike Frank LLoyd...Joan Grimes

Steph · « **Reply #995 on:** September 21, 2010, 06:02:44 AM »

I love Frank Lloyds designs, but after visiting so many of them, I realize he was all about look and not about practical.. The hallways, stairs and bathrooms are all awful in his houses.. He didnt care if they leaked and insisted on his idea of furniture.. So genius,, well up to a point.

MaryPage · « **Reply #996 on:** September 21, 2010, 12:25:41 PM »

Have toured two of Frank Lloyd Wright's homes, and disliked both. The first was Falling Water, and I admit the scene was heavenly and it was great viewing the waterfall right from the home. The home would have driven me bananas. The second was not too far away, have forgotten the name, and was owned at the time by some British Peer who was not often there. Remember seeing a photo framed in silver of the peer with Princess Diana on a table in the living room; apparently he was a close friend of hers. Anyway, again I did not like the house, but if I HAD to live in one of the two, I would have chosen it over Falling Water despite the lack of a gorgeous location. I have no regard for the man whatsover.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #997 on:** September 21, 2010, 01:21:35 PM »

MaryPage: You've pointed out things which are lacking in the descriptions of his work. I can feel less worshipful of his talent now. Typically he was designing for his own eye and not for the object of his designs, the client. He seemed remote, to me, lacking empathy.

maryz · « **Reply #998 on:** September 21, 2010, 01:41:58 PM »

Mary Page et al - we've toured a number of FLW homes - and love them as "art". Definitely not very liveable, though. The other house you mentioned is Kentuck Knob - about 5 miles from Falling Water. I agree, it's probably the most "liveable" of any of his houses that we've seen. There are two houses near here. The only one in TN is here in Chattanooga - we've been in it once - it's very small, but has been lived in constantly since it was built. There is one in Florence, AL (between Nashville and Birmingham). It's a very liveable house, and was even enlarged at one point - keeping to the original style. The building family lived in it until the 1990s when the surviving members gave it to a foundation to restore as a historic site, and for visitors.

This is the link for Kentuck Knob - http://www.kentuckknob.com/

This is the Rosenbaum House - http://www.wrightinalabama.com/

joangrimes · « **Reply #999 on:** September 21, 2010, 03:14:17 PM »

I visited the house in Florence, AL. couple of years ago.. The house fits into the setting very well. I found it beautiful both the setting and the house...I loced the color scheme of the house. But I do not have any thing but absolute ahorence for Frank LLoyd Wright..Joan G

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 776199 times)