Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 990865 times)

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5800 on:** April 10, 2015, 11:49:25 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

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5801 on:** April 10, 2015, 11:50:24 AM »

By choosing to read Kristin Lavransdatter I only now learned this was translated - somehow I thought it was written in English and the other amazing to me bit was to click her name on Amazon and realize this women wrote numbers and numbers of books and was still living after WWII and had received the Noble in 1948 - amazing - her photos do not show a smiling women even in her younger years - now I am curious to find out more about her.

PatH · « **Reply #5802 on:** April 10, 2015, 05:23:18 PM »

Start with the Nobel Prize website:

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1928/

If you click on her name in blue to the left of the picture, you get a menu, and "biographical" leads you to a brief one, told by her, which has some amusing bits. At one point she went to a commercial school, and says about it

Quote

I did not like it there, but it had one advantage over my old school; no one there expected me to like anything.

I'll post the link in the Kristin discussion too.

Steph · « **Reply #5803 on:** April 11, 2015, 08:56:14 AM »

The series that I always thought would be interesting is there is a trilogy about coming to America..
They were Scandinavian and went west to what is probably Wisconsin or so.. I liked it very much.. Could the title have been "The Immigrants"

CubFan · « **Reply #5804 on:** April 11, 2015, 09:16:59 AM »

I think the series you are thinking of Steph is written by Vilhelm Moberg. The first book in the series is called The Emigrants and is set in Minnesota once they get here.

Another series totally unrelated but often confused with Moberg because it was published about the same time and starts with The Immigrant is by Howard Fast. In my opinion not nearly as good.

Mary

ginny · « **Reply #5805 on:** April 11, 2015, 10:32:04 AM »

Stephen Birmingham wrote a lot of books on the Jewish Emigration to America experience, the Irish and German emigration experience and lot of non fiction books on what happened to society when they got here. Social strata books. Back in the 80's I think it was he wrote a series of books of fiction on this too and I am stunned to see you can't even get some of them any more, they don't even list them, several sagas of families which were absolutely wonderful. I think one was called The Emigrants.

I THINK I still have them, all the fiction ones, somewhere on the shelves, if one could even open up the old creaky pages (surely the '80's were not that long ago) but his non fiction books are more well known and have apparently taken over. But they were good books. Really good reads. Very Chaim Potok in style, and he's also a very good writer.

They actually inspired a lot of my own interest in the emigration to America sagas. Those were tough people. When we were considering a Bookfest once, in the Midwest, we wrote Birmingham, he'd be in his mid 80s today, and who said he'd come if his expenses were paid but of course we could not afford to pay him, (and it wasn't particularly nearby)...I always wished we had had that pleasure. His fiction sagas do not let one go.

Steph · « **Reply #5806 on:** April 12, 2015, 09:30:56 AM »

Thanks Mary, It was the Emigrants by Moberg and I loved it. Opened my eyes to an entirely different part of our country and inspired me years later to go to the area in our RV and drive all over the place to see the country they opened up.

marjifay · « **Reply #5807 on:** April 19, 2015, 11:26:24 AM »

I'm reading a fascinating novel, THE NIGHTENGALE by Kristin Hannah. It tells the story of two sisters living in a small town in France. Altho everyone is talking about the war in Europe and are fearful of the Germans invading France, the sisters cannot believe that the Germans will be able to get through the Maginot Line (a blockade built on the border between France and Germany after WWI. But invade the Germans do.
The younger 18-year old sister has to flee Paris and walks with crowds of thousands of people fleeing Paris. She learns to hate the Germans as she sees them bomb and strafe the innocent fleeing adults and children, killing and wounding them. As she reaches her older married sister's home in the small village(the sister's husband is away having been drafted into the Franch army), The women are forced to have a young German captain soldier live with them. Isobelle, the younger sister shows her hatred of the German by cutting off her long beautiful blonde hair when the captain praises her lovely locks. She joins with some young men in the village who also hate the Nazis, and assists them at the risk of her death by distributing leaflets that praise General de Gaulle who is in Britain and broadcasts encouragement by radio to the French. (the French own radios on penalty of death if caught with one) This book is beautifully written (I'd call it literary fiction that keeps you turning pages). As you read, you wonder what you would have done in their place. Everything seems so fearful and real. I now want to read a biography of Charles de Gaulle.

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #5808 on:** April 19, 2015, 12:48:28 PM »

As I recall, everyone was quite confident the Maginot Line would keep the Germans out of France.
But the Germans swept in through Belgium and around the END of that line into France.
One big problem the French never mention for the history books: the guns and fortifications in place were all aimed outwards. They were unable to turn around and shoot at the enemy pouring in the other side. So the humongous expense turned out to have been useless! Funny, in a grim kind of way, and very sad for the French.

Steph · « **Reply #5809 on:** April 20, 2015, 08:58:53 AM »

DeGaulle had an ego the size of the sun and was not particularly nice to anyone. He had inflated ideas on what the French did and ran down the actual Frenchmen who risked life and limb in the country and sat the war out in England, being important and giving orders. I have no respect for him, but the French adored him.

pedln · « **Reply #5810 on:** April 20, 2015, 02:22:06 PM »

Marjifay, thanks for your clear description of Kristin Hannah's Nightengale. It's been on my TBR list for a long time, so I guess I'd better speed things up and think about reading it.

salan · « **Reply #5811 on:** April 20, 2015, 05:07:22 PM »

I like Kristin Hannah and have read a number of her books. The Nightingale is on my tbr list. I may have to move it up!
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #5812 on:** April 21, 2015, 08:51:26 AM »

I read a few of hers many years ago, but may try Nightengale.. Sounds interesting.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5813 on:** April 23, 2015, 10:03:59 AM »

Hoping you have a terrific Irish holiday, Steph! My principal desire re Ireland is to go to Dublin and do the James Joyce Bloomsday tour. It would be SO much fun to see all the places!

marjifay · « **Reply #5814 on:** May 06, 2015, 02:47:13 AM »

I'm reading the strangest book, one that I can't put down even though I can't figure it out, CRASH AND BURN by Lisa Gardner. Has anyone read it, or anything else by Gardner?

Marj

nlhome · « **Reply #5815 on:** May 06, 2015, 09:02:01 AM »

Marj, I have read one of Lisa Gardner's books. It really held my attention. Touch and Go. Lots of twists and turns in the plot.

Your question sent me to my bookshelf, and I have another there, and I will probably read that next. The Perfect Husband - which is the first in a series, I think. Thanks. I was in one of those "nothing appeals to me" periods in my reading.

marjifay · « **Reply #5816 on:** May 06, 2015, 09:48:55 AM »

Thanks, Nlhome, I put Touch and Go on hold at my library. I think I'm going to be addicted to Gardner's books!

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #5817 on:** May 09, 2015, 08:19:52 AM »

Hmm, will look up Gardner.. Never heard of her.

salan · « **Reply #5818 on:** May 10, 2015, 06:27:06 PM »

I just finished Me Before You by JoJo moyes. Two people whose taste is similar to mine recommended it to me. It was very good and I may suggest it to my ftf reading group. The blurb made to book sound depressing, but it wasn't. Have any of you read it?
Sally

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5819 on:** May 10, 2015, 06:28:37 PM »

Yes, I read it and thoroughly enjoyed it! Your book group should enjoy it too.

marjifay · « **Reply #5820 on:** May 11, 2015, 09:58:29 AM »

The books I've read by Lisa Gardner are set in New Hampshire. Make me want to visit there. Lovely forests. Must be beautiful in the autumn.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #5821 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:48:20 AM »

Finished my book club book, had read it before and did not like it that much the first time.. A year in Provance...

marjifay · « **Reply #5822 on:** May 12, 2015, 06:54:58 PM »

Well, I just finished Lisa Gardner's Touch and Go. I was somewhat disappinted in it. It started out well enough and had some good suspence in it, but I thought the ending was pretty unbelievable.

Marj

Steph · « **Reply #5823 on:** May 13, 2015, 08:51:14 AM »

I looked at the Moys book yesterday, but it sounded a bit too much romance for me.

salan · « **Reply #5824 on:** May 13, 2015, 09:48:23 AM »

Steph, I would not call the Moyes book (Me Before You) a romance book. There is a strange sort of romance in it, but it is not a romantic book (by my definition of romance, anyway). I do not care for romance books, either.
Sally

Steph · « **Reply #5825 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:30:32 AM »

Sally, ok, will ignore the blurb and pick it up the next time I see it. just now is packing up my books that must travel with me. I am terrible about books and carry them along on my back and forths.

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #5826 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:37:37 PM »

I just started reading Kate Atkinson's recently published novel, "A God in Ruins." So far, it's very good. Her previous novel, "Life After Life," was one of my favorite books. Are any of you fans of her?

Steph · « **Reply #5827 on:** May 15, 2015, 08:13:18 AM »

I keep hearing more and more about Kate Atkinson.. I tried an early one and did not get interested enough to finish it. May try again.

marjifay · « **Reply #5828 on:** May 15, 2015, 02:23:40 PM »

Sorry you did not care for the book A Year in Provence, Steph. Of all the places I visited in Europe, Provence was my favorite. Lovely countryside and peope. I liked it more than Paris.

Marj

marjifay · « **Reply #5829 on:** May 15, 2015, 02:53:45 PM »

I have to agree with you, Steph, re Kate Atkinson. Some time ago I read her novel Case Histories, and did not care enough for it to read any other books by her.

However, since Winchester Lady likes her so much, I miight give A God in Ruins a read. I have found a couple of times that although I didn't care for one book by an author, I did like others.

Marj

Winchesterlady · « **Reply #5830 on:** May 15, 2015, 05:17:07 PM »

Marj, A warning about Kate Atkinson's last two books. I love both of them, but some may not like the style of writing. Life After Life was unlike any book I've ever read. The premise of it is very clever...what if you had the chance to live your life again and do things differently? Then, if it didn't go right again, you could start over......and over. The story was about Ursula Todd and she is always born on the same date, but dies at different times of her life.

Her latest book, A God in Ruins, focuses on Ursula's younger brother, Teddy, who was a pilot in the Royal Air Force during WWII. (You don't have to read Life After Life before this.) Teddy never expected to come home from the war, but he does and ends up living a very long life. The story is not written in the style of her previous book, but she does skip back and forth among decades so it's not written in chronological order.

Just thought it was worth the warning. The style of writing took a bit to get used to, but was well worth it. Neither book is anything like the Case Histories book.

Sorry that got so long...

Tomereader1 · « **Reply #5831 on:** May 15, 2015, 05:39:26 PM »

I read "Life After Life" with great expectations, and sadly, I really didn't enjoy the book at all.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5832 on:** May 15, 2015, 07:56:44 PM »

I love, love, loved Kate Atkinson's Case Histories, and enjoyed the BBC miniseries, as well. Have not read her last two books because I have hundreds and hundreds on hand to read, and doubt very much I have enough time to get to all of them. This is NOT an announcement that I am about to expire, but quite simply that I am 86 and in possession of hundreds of titles I purchased because I want so much to read them.

Steph · « **Reply #5833 on:** May 16, 2015, 08:35:42 AM »

MaryPage, I am going for you to be our 100 member.. We need to prove that reading makes you live longer..
I love Provence, just did not care for the book. A bit too " I am in the know and you aren't."

marjifay · « **Reply #5834 on:** May 17, 2015, 11:09:39 AM »

Mary Page, I hope you do not expire anytime soon. I enjoy your postings.

Marj

FlaJean · « **Reply #5835 on:** May 17, 2015, 05:48:17 PM »

MaryPage, I love your postings. You DO have a way with words.

Judy Laird · « **Reply #5836 on:** May 17, 2015, 09:35:57 PM »

Ditto for me I love to read Mary Page's posts

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #5837 on:** May 18, 2015, 12:07:18 AM »

Yes, I know all is right with the world when Mary Page you post and the morning has come a fresh when I read a post from Steph

Steph · « **Reply #5838 on:** May 18, 2015, 07:31:23 AM »

Today is no eat, just water, so I can give a blood sample for the vampire nurse.. She says drink water, water , water. since I have veins that are not happy about his.. Bah. Started a Jonathon Kellerman book.. Killer.. Seems interesting and I like his Alex Delaware series.

MaryPage · « **Reply #5839 on:** May 18, 2015, 09:05:53 AM »

Oh, my gosh! Thank you! You cannot see me curtsying to each of you, but that is precisely what is occurring here! And now I have to gather up a roll of paper towels, a waste basket, and a small plastic bucket with water and go out on the back deck and wash the pollen off the chairs & tables. Steph, I'm glad you enjoyed Ireland and REALLY GLAD you are back!

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 990865 times)