This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

Callan57 · 14-10-2016 06:47PM

Everything in this Country Must by Colum McCann

littlema · 15-10-2016 12:10AM

Wyldwood wrote: »

Read a Man Called Ove and loved it. It was an emotional ride reading it but I'd recommend to all lovers of Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave.

Next on the pile is Rachel Hore's The House on Bellevue Gardens.

I was recommended this book (Ove) by my son in Oz....he nearly blubbed on the mine flight, but recovered enough to tell me to read it. Wonderful warm & funny book.

Callan57 · 16-10-2016 05:32AM

Talking to Strangers by Michael Harding

Belle E. Flops · 16-10-2016 05:56PM

I enjoyed Psycho. I knew the general gist of the story even though I haven't gotten around to watching the film yet.

Also read 'The Execution Protocol' by Stephen Trombley. It's a look at death row in America. Trombley meets with the maker of the lethal injection machine and other execution methods. He then meets the executioners and finally some inmates on death row. It's a very grim read, but also very interesting at the same time.

After that read a young adult book called 'The Darkest Part of the Forest' by Holly Black. Don't know what inspired me to start reading it. It wasn't anything special but it was a nice story set in a town where humans and faeries exist side by side. I would imagine younger reader might love it.

Just after finishing 'The House at the End of Hope Street' by Menna van Praag. I loved the start of the book where you're introduced tothis magical house filled with famous heroines and literary figures. I think the story itself however could have been better. It was nice though.

Now moving onto 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen.

Fathom · 17-10-2016 02:20AM

THE TRESPASSER
by Tana French

lizzylad84 · 17-10-2016 08:50PM

Girl on the train. Can't seem to put it down at the minute. 60 odd pages left

Prenderb · 17-10-2016 09:21PM

Just started (and finished) The Vegetarian, by Han Kang.

One of those books! Recommend, but it's like Perfume.

Callan57 · 18-10-2016 09:01AM

Finished Talking to Strangers .... good read by not as entertaining as the first two books IMO

The Red and The Green by Iris Murdoch

implausible · 19-10-2016 11:25PM

Callan57 wrote:

Everything in this Country Must by Colum McCann

Any good? I loved Let the Great World Spin and liked Transatlantic.

Finished Lying in Wait, Liz Nugent's work is fantastic, gripping page turner with v recognisable characters (for Irish readers anyway) and plausible plots. Best thriller I've read in a long time.

I'm on Donal Ryan's latest one now - All We Shall Know. It's so real and poetic at the same time and you can really enjoy the character descriptions, he has a very keen eye. The plot of this one has me hooked too. He could probably do with moving away from the small town character portraits though, I'd imagine it'll get stale after a few more books.

Callan57 · 20-10-2016 06:56AM

implausible wrote: »

Any good? I loved Let the Great World Spin and liked Transatlantic.

Finished Lying in Wait, Liz Nugent's work is fantastic, gripping page turner with v recognisable characters (for Irish readers anyway) and plausible plots. Best thriller I've read in a long time.

I'm on Donal Ryan's latest one now - All We Shall Know. It's so real and poetic at the same time and you can really enjoy the character descriptions, he has a very keen eye. The plot of this one has me hooked too. He could probably do with moving away from the small town character portraits though, I'd imagine it'll get stale after a few more books.

Everything in this Country Must is superb (I read it in a day & just loved it but I'm a big fan of McCann. It's two short stories & a novella BTW

Fathom · 21-10-2016 02:49AM

The Magnolia Story
by Chip Gaines

Xofpod · 21-10-2016 09:02AM

The Trees, Ali Shaw

IvyTheTerrible · 21-10-2016 12:51PM

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Very good so far!

Callan57 · 21-10-2016 11:43PM

The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 22-10-2016 12:46AM

Callan57 wrote: »

The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner

Good luck.

Arghus · 24-10-2016 12:46AM

Callan57 wrote: »

The Sound and The Fury by William Faulkner

That's a toughey for sure.

Speaking of tough ones, I'm currently trying to read The Ambassadors by Henry James. And when I say read what I really mean is understand.

His style in the novel is almost impossible to get a hold on. Sentences go on and on and on, with endless clauses, digressions and inferences. I'm trying to read everything with a forensic eye, but, Jesus Christ, it's a tough read. I had to give up on The Wings of The Dove - it was absolute torture. The most unenjoyable book I've ever opened in my life; I knew I was in trouble from page one.

However, I thought The Portrait of A Lady was a great book, and I resolved to give "difficult" Henry James one more try. There's definitely something in it, the fog clears every now and again and you'll read a snippet of something that'll make you go, "Woah", but I don't know if I have the perseverance to stay the course.

Callan57 · 25-10-2016 07:21PM

Finished The Sound and The Fury in the early hours .... might not be my favourite book of the year but all in all I kinda liked it once I got my head round the stream of consciousness style. Mind you I did have to reread many a paragraph to get any kind of idea what was going on or who was narrating.

Next is Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill ... recommended by my niece so not too sure what I'm letting myself in for

OwaynOTT · 26-10-2016 08:41PM

Just finished The North Water by Ian McGuire. While I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction but enjoyed this one. Not a great book by any stretch of the imagination but well worth a read.
Decided to read Lord of the Flies. Never read it.

ahlookit · 26-10-2016 11:55PM

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Decided to read Lord of the Flies. Never read it.

I think it was the only book I had to read in secondary school that I really enjoyed...will be interesting to see what you make of it...

Fathom · 27-10-2016 12:45AM

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

Callan57 · 28-10-2016 06:55AM

Thirteen Ways of Looking by Colum McCann

SarahBM · 29-10-2016 09:56PM

My reading lately has a disaster. I started a few books and I couldn't finish them. Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to try and get my groove back.

Wyldwood · 30-10-2016 10:56AM

I think I'm going to be on my own with this but I just don't get the hype around Liz Nugent's Lying in Wait. It's perfectly readable but I found the plot unbelievable and contrived and the writing style very amateur.

Oh well, horses for courses again.

I'm reading Spill Simmer Falter Wither now and enjoying it. I love the writing style, the meandering thoughts and very descriptive passages.

ncmc · 30-10-2016 02:56PM

Wyldwood, I just finished Unravelling Oliver for my book club, I had never heard of it or Liz Nugent before, I loved it at the start, I don't read many Irish books so it was nice to read something with an Irish slant. But as the book went on, the plot just became overly melodramatic and as you said - the writing is very amateur. It's like she has to spell everything out rather than let the reader come to their own conclusions. There was a kernel of a good idea in there, but poor writing and over simplification let it down.

Mr.Nice Guy · 30-10-2016 08:30PM

SarahBM wrote: »

My reading lately has a disaster. I started a few books and I couldn't finish them. Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to try and get my groove back.

I'm the same way at the minute.

I've been reading Salem's Lot and I'm about 150 pages in but it's been a struggle for me. I normally love Stephen King stories but this one is proving tough to stick with. Question to those who have read this: is it worth sticking with?

Dirty Dingus McGee · 30-10-2016 11:10PM

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I'm the same way at the minute.

I've been reading Salem's Lot and I'm about 150 pages in but it's been a struggle for me. I normally love Stephen King stories but this one is proving tough to stick with. Question to those who have read this: is it worth sticking with?

It's a great book.It's in my top 10, you should stick with it.

Belle E. Flops · 30-10-2016 11:32PM

I read 'We have always lived in the castle' by Shirley Jackson after reading some great reviews. It was grand, but it was nothing special. It was short but I think if it had been much longer I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.

I've put 'Northanger Abbey' by Jane Austen on hold for the time being and I'm starting 'It' by Stephen King, it being the season and all. 'Carrie' is the only King I've read so far, so I'm looking forward to this.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO · 30-10-2016 11:41PM

Belle E. Flops wrote: »

I read 'We have always lived in the castle' by Shirley Jackson after reading some great reviews. It was grand, but it was nothing special. It was short but I think if it had been much longer I wouldn't have bothered finishing it.

They've just finished shooting a film of that in Dublin/Wicklow.

Callan57 · 31-10-2016 07:00PM

About to start The Ginger Man by J P Donleavy .... can't believe I'm only getting to it now! :rolleyes:

Belle E. Flops · 31-10-2016 07:14PM

Callan57 wrote: »

About to start The Ginger Man by J P Donleavy .... can't believe I'm only getting to it now! :rolleyes:

I read that earlier this year after reading about what a 'masterpiece' it is. I absolutely hated it.

This Week I are mostly reading (contd)

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