prairiegirl
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Posts posted by prairiegirl
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I finished the lengthy Seveneves by Stephenson a few days ago and I'm so torn because I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book and the last third bored me to tears. Really a letdown. Blah. I hate when excellent plots aren't fully taken advantage of and fail to wow me!
I'm reading Home by Harlan Coben. Picked it up and didn't realize it was one of his Myron Bolitar stories but I'm liking it quite a bit so far. I didn't realize that Myron's life had changed significantly and so the feel is much different than the 2 earlier books I tried and put down years ago.
Next up is Quick Sand by Malin Persson Giolito, my first Scandinavian pick of the year. Totally weird, nerdy side trail....I was recently looking up how many billionaires there are in Sweden and was interested to see the last name "Persson" on it 5 times (out of 26). The first is the owner of H&M fashion stores (started by HIS father) and his four children. Doesn't seem like this author is related that I can tell, but it also appears to be a common name. Anywho... lol
I love Harlan Coben but not a big fan of the Mickey Bolitar books. I, too, picked up Home not knowing it was a Mickey book. I didn't mind it. It was definitely the best of the Mickey books.
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I finished The Woman in Cabin 10--did not like it at all. It was reminiscent of Girl on the Train. I am getting tired of unreliable characters. As I was reading I was inwardly screaming, "Pull yourself together already!!" It was a frustrating read.
For an online book club I am reading The Girl You Left Behind. I am not a JoJo Moyes fan but this is different from her usual fare. So far I am liking it.
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From a few days ago...
I started, then abandoned, Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay.
I started the book thinking it was a book of essays (wondering if the first story was a horrifying tale of part of her childhood), but by the second story realized I was reading a book of short stories. Not really my favorite medium. The first story was very good, but harrowing. The second one ok enough. The third one, another harrowing one. Out of three, she already covered child abduction & rape, along with domestic violence.
Not sure if the title refers to a particular story or the entire set of stories (since I didn't read the whole collection), but if I had endured what women in the first few stories did, I'd sure be a difficult woman. Hell, way more than a difficult woman. Or is it more that the women have difficult lives (to put it mildly)? Difficult doesn't even seem like the right descriptor of the lives in the stories I read.
Too much for me right now. Or probably ever.
I have this waiting for me at the library. I, too, thought it was an essay collection. I listened to From the Front Porch podcast a few days ago where they discussed this book at length. It was from there that I realized this was a book of short stories. My anticipation of this book waned as I am not a big fan of short stories. I read Gay's An Untsmed State a few years ago. It was a hard book to read but the writing was breath-taking. My experience alone with that book is what is leading me to at least start to read it and see what happens from there.
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I picked up Seven Surrenders from the library yesterday and I'm totally immersed. :001_wub:
I was looking down my TR list to find something light, happy, or funny to put on hold to read next . . . you know what? I don't have much like that on my list. 200 books, and not much of it strikes me as particularly uplifting. I wonder why that is? I've always liked books that make me think, but it doesn't seem like any of them qualify as light or happy books.
I think Matryoshko makes a good point, Rose. When I am dealing with depression, light and humorous reads do not help at all. Darker, heavier reads cause me to think things through and that is comforting to me. Lincoln on the Bardo is a dark read but it was such a comfort to me. So maybe heavy reads will help you work through the hard stuff. Maybe.
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Thank you all for your kind words. They mean a great deal to me.
I think I may have my reading mojo back. I flew through Lincoln on the Bardo and I loved it!! I was listening to the podcast From the Frontporch yesterday and they were talking about how this book might be helpful to those who are grieving. I think that is why Saunders' words struck deep with me because he was putting words to my grief. I am thankful that I read it rather than listened to it as I think the audio would have been too distracting.
I have now moved on to The a woman in Cabin 10
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I haven't been here in the past 6 weeks as my dad died in the beginning of Feb. and the kids and I have been with my mom ever since. We came home on Sun. and are slowly acclimating ourselves to life back st home.
I haven't been reading much since all of this happened. Not only did I lose my dad but I also lost my coping mechanism for hard times (reading). Didn't expect that at all.
March has come to be a better month. I have been able to actually read and finish a few books. Another surprise is that I have found comfort in a genre that I usually don't read; historical fiction.
The first book I was able to finish was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I have put this off for months cause I didn't think I would like it. I was wrong-- loved it. Also loved A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline (it is based on the painting Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth) and The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawson. But the book that really brought me back into the land of the reading was The Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Oh, how I love that man's writing!
I am currently reading Lincoln on the Bardo and am loving it so far.
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Just finished The Nightingale. I'm misty eyed and sitting here trying not to cry and make a fool of myself in front of my hubby. What a wonderful story. More later after I've digested it a bit
Robin, I have The Nightingale waiting for me on my phone. I have been hesitant to read it because I didn't like All the Light You Cannot See. I think all the hype pushed my expectations too high. I am afraid that the same thing will happen with The Nightingsle. But in reading your reaction I think I might crack it open soon
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Robin, I am intrigued by the Frost Like Night cover. The Midnight Dance one is good, too. The last cover is already on my TBR list.
I tried to read Euphoria, I think it was when Robin posted it on here due to it's cover but I couldn't get too far in it. I gave up.
Stacia, I have been hearing a lot of buzz about The Second Mrs. Hockaday. The subject interests me but it is an epistolary novel and I am not good with those so I haven't ordered it from the library yet. I am giving myself time to think it through. 😃
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Hi wonderful ladies, and gents if there are any here,
I was trying to read at least some of the BAW threads and post a bit, but my father passed away just over a week ago so I probably won't be around here much for a while. I feel like I'm just coming out of a fog, waking from a bad dream. He was elderly and had a bad heart but we weren't expecting it that particular day, kwim? I'll still be reading books and hope to return here eventually. I posted a thread "my dad passed away" if anyone would like to read a bit about him. He made the world a better place.
Happy reading, everyone. My dad was a voracious reader. ☺ Hug your loved ones.
Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
PrairieSong, I am so sorry. Hugs.
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Finding it difficult to read just using the library. I guess our library isn't very good. I might splash out and buy a cheer up book, as I've just found out I will have to withdraw from my Masters due to a sudden and unexpected drop in our income, and I feel pretty devastated about the crushing of a long term plan for financial well being once I finish homeschooling ds 13.
Any cheer up book suggestions ?
Sadie, I am so sorry about this. Hugs. I am hoping that things will work out or that you will be able to find a new solution to this problem. 💕💕
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Tribe by Sebastian Junger partly addresses the issue as to why kidnapped children preferred staying with their captors . At the back of the book, Jiles recommended A book for further reading. The title escapes me at the moment. Captured, maybe?In other news (no pun intended) I finished News of the World today. I loved it! It made me want to read a bit more about children who were captured by Native American tribes, and the trouble they had adjusting when they were returned to their biological families. I also want to read another book of hers, The Color of Lightning. There's an historical character, Britt Johnson, who makes a brief appearance in News of the World. The Color of Lightning tells his story as historical fiction.
Still plugging away at:
Doctor Thorne - I should finish it this week.
Alexander Hamilton - I've been listening to the musical soundtrack and was inspired to pick it back up again.
Norwegian Wood - I should finish this one this week too.
Infidel - audio book. I like listening to an author read his or her own book, but her accent is fairly thick and I have to really pay attention. I didn't have this problem with Trevor Noah's book but maybe that's because I'm used to hearing him on The Daily Show.
Once I finish at least one of the above books I plan to start my book club's current book - The Marriage of Opposites.
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I read three books this past week:
Lab Girl by Hope Jahren. I didn't like it at the beginning but kept plugging along with it and am glad that I did. It picked up by the middle.
Love That Boy by Ron Fournier. This was an okay read but it seemed to me that this book just didn't know what it wanted to be. Fourner's son was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 12 years old and this book is Fournier's way of dealing with it. So the book could be categorized as memoir/parenting book/presidential history book. That was too many categories for me. I think two would have been less busy.
The Couple Next Door by Shari LaPena. Suspense/ thrillers are my genre of choice, my comfort read (that sounds awful doesn't?). When life is tense I love reading a thriller and escaping the stress. That's what this book did for me, it helped me escape.
I am currently reading Underground Airlines by Ben Winters and a Daniel Silva book whose title escapes me at the moment.
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Rose, I like your theory as to why Death at Pemberley received so many poor reviews. At the time that I read it I couldn't understand why everyone disliked it so much cause I loved it! But, in keeping with your theory, I really like P.D.James and I like Austen but I'm not gushy about her like most fans are so I agree with your theory. 😃
Stacia, I had not heard of By Gaslight until you talked about it here but now I see it EVERYWHERE-- online and in real life. I looked for it online at our library site. The site is for all of the libraries in Saskatchewan. Well, there were over 20 copies listed and they were all out. I haven't decided whether I want put a hold on it yet cause over 700 pages in 3 weeks? With no chance of renewal? I'm not sure. But I do want to read this book.
Which brings me to the issue of lack of punctuation. I am sure this has always been a style choice but it seems to be a popular one lately. I have read three books this past year that did not use punctuation. I am curious as to why would an author decide to write in this style? Does any one have any ideas?
Lady Florida, I read News of the World last month and was delighted by it. So much so that I am reading it aloud to my kids now. Enjoy!
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Many thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers. I made it through my surgery okay although it ended up being 3.5 hours, when it was only supposed to be 1.5. I spent yesterday coming out of the anesthesia fog, but lurked on the boards a bit. I am very glad I had the procedure done. Part of the process was a diagnosis for a condition causing pain (doing anything other than lying down was agonizing), and it was freeing to have the doctor confirm, yes, things were wonky, the pain wasn't all in my head, and the surgery was needed. I'm hopeful I will be better though I won't know for certain for another few months. I haven't done much reading books as it's been hard to concentrate, but the posts here are a nice distraction.
I'm so glad that the surgery went well, Erin. Sending you thoughts for quick and easy healing. 💕
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I just finished Louise Penny's Still Life. Loved this mystery and am glad to have a new series to read.
I finished book 4 of this series and am finding that the books get better as they go along. I didn't really like the first two but kept plugging along because of the buzz associated this series. I'm glad I didn't give up because the fourth book is really good. Enjoy!!
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I finished The Other Einstein by Heather Terrell today. It was a really good book about Albert Einstein's first wife. The book has a great mixture of fact and fiction in it. It made me think more about the role women were expected to play in the past and how women who did not meet that role were treated.
I read this last month and enjoyed it as historical fiction but wondered what parts, if any, were true. The book put Einstein in a bad light and that made me very sad.
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I am reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
I am also read DD's history and literature assignments so we can discuss.
I have this on my pile and am looking forward to reading it.
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Nan, hugs to you. I am sending you wishes for quick healing.
ErinE, I have not read Outlander but there was a lot of online buzz about it last year. It sounded like something my 17 yr old would like so I got the first one for her for Christmas. Soon after I start hearing it being referred to as 'mommy p*rn'. I quickly took it back from my daughter and said that I wanted to read it before she did but I wasn't too sure that I really wanted to read it Now in reading your defence, I will put it on the top of my reading pile.
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Erin, you will be in my thoughts this week.
I haven't read all of the Peter Wimsey books but Nine Tailors is my favourite so far. I have been trying to read them in order but the earlier ones were a bit ho hum. I had given up on them but maybe I need to give the series another chance.
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Happy Birthday, Rosie! 🎂
I read 5 books this past week:
Dark Matter by BlakeCrouch. Science fiction. Loved it!
All is Grace by Brennan Manning. Memoir
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sereptys. YA historical fiction. This was so good!! I actually screamed out loud a few times at the intense parts.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I thought I would love this but, alas, it was a disappointing read for me.
Tribe by Sebastian Junger. Non-fiction
We start school tomorrow so my reading will probably slow down quite a bit. Right now I am reading:
Underground Airline by Ben Winter.
Lab Girl
Uninvited by Lysa TerKuerst.
Ithaca by Patrick Dillon
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I am reading this thread on my phone and I can't quote on here which is frustrating.
Stacia, I love what your son said about The Plover! I haven't read it yet but his words have made put it at the top of my TBR list.
Male/female author ratios--I read about 80% female authors last year and that is normal for me. Of the six books that I have read or am still reading so far this year, 4 of them are male authors. I find that interesting.
I just received Tribe by Sebastien Junger from the library today. I'm not too far into it but I am finding it fascinating. The book suggests that we are all searching for a community or tribe, if you will. This explains why early Americans, who were held captive by Native Americans wanted to stay with their captors. It also explains why 'combat veterans who come home miss the intimate bonds of platoon life.' Tbought provoking.
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I just finished Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. I am not a science fiction kind of girl but, wow, I love this book!! For the most part I understood what was going on so I'm kind of proud of myself. 😜
I am now reading Lab Girl, Salt to the Sea and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
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Sewingmama, you do you. If you can read one book a month then that is what you can do. Enjoy it. I know this group is called Book a Week but we all do things different. Some read way more than that and others way less. It's not about the numbers, it's about the experience.
Again, you do you. 💕
Now, that being said.... I finished my first book of the year. 😜 It was a memoir written by Brennan Manning entitled All is Grace. I feel like a dishrag after finishing it this morning. Manning was a divorced ex-Priest who struggled with alcohol most of his adult life. As one whose family member is an alcoholic, this book hit real close to home.
DawnM, I looked at that list of unputdownables and the only one (of the ones that I have read) that I would put in that category is the Agatha Christie one--And Then There Were None. Elizabeth Alexander's is very good, too, but I wouldn't classify it as 'unputdownables.'
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Alice, I read Hillbilly Elegy last week and I really liked it. It has two facets to it--a memoir and a commentary in hillbilly culture. I focused mostly on the memoir part. I am hoping to reread it again this year to focus more on the commentary aspect of the book. Education was a major thread of the book and it gave me lots to think about.
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Book a Week 2017 - BW13 : Happy Birthday Robert Frost
in The Chat Board
Posted
Oops, I goofed. I meant to say that I am not a big fan of the Myron Bolitar books. I like his stand alone books much better.