Book Lovers Club
Comments
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Started GWTW last night. Not even through the first chapter yet!
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Read a book by a new author (for me) over the weekend The Real Michael Swann by Bryan Reardon. Finished this one in two sittings and would probably have done so in one if I hadn't started it so late in the day. LOL. Short, engaging chapters told from the perspective of the story's two main characters. Would characterize the book as part family drama with wonderful characterizations about human behavior and the love between a husband and wife and part terrorist drama with an underlying current regarding the political divisiveness that's so apparent in our country today. There's also a focus on the impact media plays surrounding our day-to-day life in today's chaotic world. Kept me turning the pages and has me looking forward to reading more of his work.
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I'm back to books just for fun after spending most of the last year walking or reading magazines & journals & periodicals & serious non-fiction stuff.
I read Robert Galbraith's The Silkworm in one long day & evening when I made a conscious decision to do nothing else. Good thing I'm a fast reader since it's 650 pages. Galbraith is J.K.Rowling's 'nom de plume', The book is her second British mystery with private detective Cormoran Strike who is the illegitimate son of a rock star & lost a leg in Afghanistan. This one is based on the literary scene and a missing vituperative author. (how about that $10 word!!) Revenge??
Also read a 1987 Jay Brandon book - Tripwire. Years ago I read Fade the Heat and had forgotten how much I like him. In Tripwire, a secretary witnesses an underworld killing in Baltimore and after saying she would testify, must run & hide for her life. Complicated by corrupt police and the fact that someone who says he's her son turns up after being presumed killed in the Vietnam war many years before.
And finally - Amy Gentry's Bad Habits. A professor enjoying her newfound 'hotshot' status at an academic conference meets up with people from her past & has to face the secrets from 'her perilous ascent to the academic firmament'. Laura Lippman says: "...Gentry is in utter control of this anaconda of a story as it twist, squeezes and lashes out at the reader. And all the reader can do is stare helplessly back, mesmerized."
VR - I finally got a copy of Out of Sheer Rage, and am thoroughly enjoying chucking my way through it.
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minus! Mazel Tov! I am so happy you are enjoying Out of Sheer Rage! Made. My. Day! I wish I could be reading it for the first time! What a pleasure!
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In June, Geoff dyer's next book will be published....The Last Days of Roger Federer...
Can't wait....
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Just finished Louise Penny's A Better Man. Oh I like her so much. I can hardly stand for a book to be done. It's like a best friend moving away.
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Minus Two - you are lucky in that you have two more Louise Penny books to go before you are caught up in the series.
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Love the book hoarding Ruth.
VR - I've been rationing the Dyer book. What a treat. I hesitated between marking & underlining or sending it to my DIL. Decided on the latter so I'm only using yellow sticky notes.
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I just finished Louis Penny’s The Madness of Crowds and found that it dragged towards the end. Seems like the last few hundred pages were spent debating over and over again who were the villains, rehashing and restating arguments. Now I’m reading her Stare of Terror who is compelling so far.
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minus! Why not send a copy of the book to her so SHE could underline, sticky note and laugh her butt off? And ration? WHY? There are so many of his books to read and enjoy! Last week, I was in the city and visited The Corner Book Store on Madison Ave. i delighted in seeing one of Dyer’s books close to the register….AND…two books away was his mentor, John Berger’s book…Ways of Seeing. Whoever had the wits about it to position these books so close together is without a doubt a bibliophile. I also was delighted to find a BEAUTIFUL copy of Rumpelstiltskin. For MONTHS I had been looking high a low for a “good” copy of the book. My granddaughter LOVES the story. Unfortunately, a good copy with beautiful illustrations and short prose is so hard to find. I could not believe how easily I found it. Steps from entering the door, I looked up on a shelf filled with children’s books and there were all these children’s classics! My eyes darted excitedly over the titles and there it was! I marveled at this gem of a small independent book store. The only thing I look forward to more than visiting the store again is reading the book to my beloved granddaughter…
grandchild number three is on its way…so many books to choose from….can’t wait to see what books will tickle his interests….
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Congratulations on your upcoming grandchild, VR. How fun to have young children to buy books for! Years ago one of our Book Club ladies became pregnant (very happily) with a Bonus Baby (born many years after her other child). We had so much fun buying some of our favorite children's books & having a Baby Book Shower!
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I have no grandchildren, but do buy books for my nieces & nephews every year. This year one niece just started Kindergarten. For Christmas she's getting my "like new" vintage copy of Raggedy Ann, and I ordered her a new Ann doll to go with the book. Since she pretty much read Charlotte's Web by herself last summer, it should be a easy read for her.
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Thanks ruth. Whatever the occasion...books are a wonderful gift...
Minus...raggedy ann? Omg! Never owned one while growing up. But...was among my favorite characters. Remember my cousin having one...pined for one for myself...oh well...wish I were a niece of yours...what a lucky child!
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For those who like NON-Fiction can I highly recommend:
The Cartiers- written by a great granddaughter- absolutely facinating- history, war, loves and losses, business acumen... wish it went on and it was already 23 hrs on audible
Anything why Shelia Weller- her research is beyond belief. My favorite is an old book: War Paint which is the story of Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden.- two very strong women
For Fiction
The Bookwomen of Troublesome Creek- Kentucky library pack who delivered more than just books to the mountains
The Hotel of the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.
Always looking for good non-fiction (non-political)- can't do mysteries or sci-fi and get tired of chick lit after a while
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QKA, if you like non-fiction, check out anything written by Erik Larson. His books are all wonderful. True stories that read like fiction!
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Needing a break from current events, I found Lost Apothecary by Sarah Sarah Penner to be just the bit of mystery, murder, and strong female characters set in 1790 and present day London worth the read. The main characters are a female pharmacist whose specialty is the care of women and a modern day woman searching for an expression of her true self. I liked that it made me question the myriad reasons for actions one chooses, are they ethical, are they flawed?
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Sundance, I just finished The Real Michael Swann (based on your recommendation) and it was everything you said it would be. Now I am waiting for the latest Louise Penny books to arrive at the library - she’s one of my all-time favorites!
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JKL2017, nice to know that a book I enjoyed and recommended also made an impression on someone else...thank you for letting me know! I haven't read anything by Louise Penny in a long while...your comment gave me a nudge to add her to the list for my next library trip. 😊
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yes, Eric Larson is great.
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QKA...welcome to the book conversations
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ruth…speaking of Larson…two weeks ago, I visited The Met and stumbled upon Tiffany’s Magnolia Vase. THE Magnolia Vase that Larson described in The Devil in the White City. The one that Chicago fair goers waited hours on line to see.Excitedly pointing to it, my friend thought I was a two year old! But seeing something in person that Larson has described in one of his books….no words
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Oh my, that gives me goosebumps, VR!
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ruth…0 -
VR, I think we can be classified as Larson groupies!
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I am just getting into The Book of Hope by Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams with Gail Hudson and found this amazing sentiment. As a daily x2 walker with my dog I could identify with Jane's statements. She says "Though I don't really like to go for a walk without a dog...A dog gives a walk purpose" How? "Well you are making someone else happy." So true, my dogs have all loved walks and I do it with them because they find such joy in it as do I." My dog, like most are scent oriented and while they keep nose to ground, I look up to find visual interest. We both find our unique delights in walking. He, some olfactory delight me the following image...
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Walking with dogs and/or little kids helps you see the world with new eyes, and, if you let it, makes you feel young again!
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Love the idea of seeing the world with new eyes. Reading a really good book by Mary Pipher (2019) that my BFF recommended "Women Rowing North - Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age". Just realized this is my third non-fiction book in two months. That's a record for me. She particular understands women were brought up they had to be "good girls" and take care of making everyone's needs all the time. We were responsible that everyone around us was happy & well.
NPR: 'women of all ages will find much to reflect on, and respond to in this collection ...' AARP: 'An encouraging, comforting and very welcome message about the strength & joy that can come with age.' Joanna Macey: 'I keep it at hand to dip into for a quick shot of Mary Pipher's matter-of-fact wisdom, humor and instinct for the essential.' Meg Cox: 'Simultaneously honest & calming. A profound and comforting guide to living deftly & deeply well into old age'
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