This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

Fathom

Colter's Hell & Jackson's Hole, by Merrill J. Mattes

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Finished The Light Between Oceans.

I had mixed feelings.

Given the subject matter I was expecting quite a heavy read but it's surprisingly light work for the most part. That said there was a point in the story when I realised I was heavily invested in the characters despite the seemingly light style of writing, which I guess is the sign of a good writer?

Definitely worth a read. I was looking forward to the film anyway, because of who is involved, but now knowing the story I'm even more excited about it.

On to The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness next.

Aenaes

I've finished The Thousand Orcs by R. A. Salvatore, was tempted to give it up a few times but it's only 300 pages and I was nearing the end battle scene so I stuck with it. I don't think I'll be reading any more of them.

I started The Village Of Longing by George O'Brien last night. The author recalls his childhood in Lismore, County Waterford during the 1950s.
Again, it's not my typical reading material but it's short enough and I'll try finish it.

Callan57

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Finished The Light Between Oceans.

I had mixed feelings.

Given the subject matter I was expecting quite a heavy read but it's surprisingly light work for the most part. That said there was a point in the story when I realised I was heavily invested in the characters despite the seemingly light style of writing, which I guess is the sign of a good writer?

Definitely worth a read. I was looking forward to the film anyway, because of who is involved, but now knowing the story I'm even more excited about it.

On to The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness next.

Just downloaded it to my Kindle on the strength of your post.

Wyldwood

Finished Career of Evil and I'm on the fence about it. I didn't find it as satisfying a read as the last 2 books, The Cuckoo's Calling is still my favourite. The characters of Robin and Strike are well developed but

I think she prioritised the relationship between Robin and Strike and the murder took a bit of a back seat

Callan57

Just finished The Unexpurgated Code by J P Donleavy ... amazingly un-PC & a great laugh.

Now I'm going to start The Light Between Oceans - looking forward to it.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Callan57 wrote: »

Now I'm going to start The Light Between Oceans - looking forward to it.

I feel so much pressure for you to like this now.

Callan57

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I feel so much pressure for you to like this now.

No pressure - I'm sure it will deliver

ivytwine

Belle E. Flops wrote: »

Finished the Crickley Hall book. It was grand but I'm glad it's over. I had enjoying the story but as others have already said, the constant repetition was very annoying and it all played out as expected.

Back onto a Harry Potter book now, 'The Half Blood Prince'.

I finished Crickley Hall the same day as you, and I'm also reading a JK book... Spooky!

Spookier than anything in Crickley Hall anyway. There were zero surprises, as you said Belle E Flops, and it was quite poorly written. I think that maybe James Herbert was already so well-known at that stage that they just published without really editing it? I've a friend who loves his stuff, especially the early ones like The Rats, but I don't think I'll be reading another one of his books.

I'm glad I finished it, if only because I now only have one more book to go before finishing my Goodreads challenge

Onto Career of Evil now and cannot put it down, it's brilliant so far!

eire4

Finished a re read of Kevin Rafter's book The Clann about Clann Na Poblachta. Interesting read.

Callan57

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

I feel so much pressure for you to like this now.

Finished The Light Between Oceans in the early hours & I loved it. Not that often lately that a book has me weeping but last night the tears flowed freely.
It certainly has the making of a great movie.
Thank you for the recommendation.


Next for me is Disclaimer by Renee Knight

Merkin

I really loved Light Between Oceans too. I wept when I finished it as I genuinely cared so much about the deeply flawed, realistic characters in it. Such a heartbreaking and thought provoking story.

Have read a couple of great books in the last week or so. Firstly The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. A semi factual story about slavery in South Carolina which was gripping and like all of her other books, beautifully written.

Following on from that theme I read Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup. It's harrowing, brutal and thought provoking, I'm now completely obsessed with finding out as much as possible about slavery in the United States so if anyone has any further recommendations I'd appreciate it.

Have now started Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. While the subject matter is disturbing it is beautifully written and I'm enjoying it.

Callan57

Merkin wrote: »

I really loved Light Between Oceans too. I wept when I finished it as I genuinely cared so much about the deeply flawed, realistic characters in it. Such a heartbreaking and thought provoking story.

Have read a couple of great books in the last week or so. Firstly The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. A semi factual story about slavery in South Carolina which was gripping and like all of her other books, beautifully written.

Following on from that theme I read Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup. It's harrowing, brutal and thought provoking, I'm now completely obsessed with finding out as much as possible about slavery in the United States so if anyone has any further recommendations I'd appreciate it.

Have now started Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. While the subject matter is disturbing it is beautifully written and I'm enjoying it.

I'd recommend The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd if you haven't read it

Wyldwood

Merkin wrote: »

I really loved Light Between Oceans too. I wept when I finished it as I genuinely cared so much about the deeply flawed, realistic characters in it. Such a heartbreaking and thought provoking story.

Have read a couple of great books in the last week or so. Firstly The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. A semi factual story about slavery in South Carolina which was gripping and like all of her other books, beautifully written.

Following on from that theme I read Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup. It's harrowing, brutal and thought provoking, I'm now completely obsessed with finding out as much as possible about slavery in the United States so if anyone has any further recommendations I'd appreciate it.

Have now started Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. While the subject matter is disturbing it is beautifully written and I'm enjoying it.

All really good books but I must say The Light Between the Oceans stands out for me as one of the best reads in my small library. Lent it to many friends and not one said they didn't like it.

I've just finished Lisa Genova's Inside the O'Briens. I feel cheated but you'll have to read it to find out why! It's a typical Genova medical-based story. This one about Huntington's Disease. Harrowing and heartbreaking story of a family struck by this fatal disease whereby if a parent has the gene the children have a 50% chance of getting it & the agony of deciding whether to get tested or not. I enjoyed it but prefer Still Alice.

Merkin

Callan57 wrote: »

I'd recommend The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd if you haven't read it

Finished it last week! Loved it!

Fathom

Down the Darkest Road, by Tami Hoag

Swiper the fox

I cannot stress just how good Donal Ryan's short stories from ' slanting of the Sun' are.
I think he is unbelievably good. It's as good a collection as I have ever read, absolutely extraordinary.

Aenaes

Aenaes wrote: »

I started The Village Of Longing by George O'Brien last night. The author recalls his childhood in Lismore, County Waterford during the 1950s.

I finished this probably only because it was just short. Nothing really happens so it's kinda boring then it goes on to mention his time as an altar boy so mentions things about the different types of Mass, etc. which I know nothing about and then starts talking about Gaelic football which I don't care about.

Now I'm about to start A Woman In Berlin, an anonymous memoir covering the period 20th April to 22nd June 1945 when the city was being taken by the Soviet army and it's subsequent occupation.
It's main theme is the widespread rape of females by Soviet soldiers and how many women formed a relationship with an officer for protection.

Callan57

Aenaes wrote: »

I finished this probably only because it was just short. Nothing really happens so it's kinda boring then it goes on to mention his time as an altar boy so mentions things about the different types of Mass, etc. which I know nothing about and then starts talking about Gaelic football which I don't care about.

Now I'm about to start A Woman In Berlin, an anonymous memoir covering the period 20th April to 22nd June 1945 when the city was being taken by the Soviet army and it's subsequent occupation.
It's main theme is the widespread rape of females by Soviet soldiers and how many women formed a relationship with an officer for protection.

Great read but harrowing stuff

katydid

I'm halfway through We Were The Mulvaneys, by Joyce Carol Oates. A harrowing story of a family that falls apart because of something that happens to their daughter one night when she's seventeen. The story of how the family relationships gradually deteriorate is fascinating and wonderfully portrayed.

Callan57

katydid wrote: »

I'm halfway through We Were The Mulvaneys, by Joyce Carol Oates. A harrowing story of a family that falls apart because of something that happens to their daughter one night when she's seventeen. The story of how the family relationships gradually deteriorate is fascinating and wonderfully portrayed.

Definitely one of the best books I have ever read - hope you like it

katydid

Callan57 wrote: »

Definitely one of the best books I have ever read - hope you like it

I've asked Santa for more JCO books. I love her writing.

Callan57

Finished Disclaimer last night ... good read but the ending is a bit of a damp squib.

Next The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

kirk buttercup

started the Bone clocks

mejulie805

Started The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing this morning. One chapter in but really love her writing style think I am really going to like it. Finished the new Galbraith. It was good but slightly underwhelming.

Paddy Samurai

Flew through this one,already on the last chapter .

About a Ex-highwayman chasing a serial killer through the plague ridden alleyways of London in the 1600's. Very atmospheric and entertaining.A real page turner.

katydid

kirk buttercup wrote: »

started the Bone clocks

It starts off quite normal, but gets WEIRD after a while. Stick with it, it will make sense eventually. But be prepared for a very confusing ride.

ivytwine

Wyldwood wrote: »

Finished Career of Evil and I'm on the fence about it. I didn't find it as satisfying a read as the last 2 books, The Cuckoo's Calling is still my favourite. The characters of Robin and Strike are well developed but

I think she prioritised the relationship between Robin and Strike and the murder took a bit of a back seat

Definitely agree with this. The early part of the book was the most engaging, but I felt

I don't see them as couple material. Also Matthew is a jerk, but she's only 26... There are other men out there, would have preferred for them to break up yet for Robin to be single for a bit.
(My being 26 and single has NOTHING to do with this I swear )
Agree the murders took too much of a back seat. Also Donnie was the least well drawn of the three suspects...
I did really enjoy it. I think the rage and humiliation felt by many victims of sexual assault was very, very well captured. Robin's experience was v close to the bone.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Finished The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness last night.

Very disappointing.

Ness is known as a YA writer and this was his first attempt at an "adult" novel. I'm inclined to think he should stick to what he's good at.

Next up is either We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves or Asking For It by Louise O'Neill. Not sure yet.

Kurtosis

I finished Being Mortal by Atul Gawande during the week, I'm a fan of medical writing as it is but this book was really excellent and changed my thinking/perspectives on ageing.

Getting stuck into Ghostwritten by David Mitchell now, loved Cloud Atlas so have been looking forward to this and so far (two chapters in) am very much enjoying it.