Book Nook Cafe discussion

This the thread for general book discussions for July 2019

Tell us what you just read, are currently reading or plan to read. Tell us about your favorite author. Have you read some book news? Share it with the group. Anything related to books and reading, we want to hear all about it !
:)

Trinity by Louisa Hall

Seven fictional characters talk about Robert Oppenheimer (the father of the atomic bomb), based on his real life. Interesting, but Oppie's personality doesn't become much clearer. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Interesting review, Barbara. I don't know that i'd care for it but it sounds as though it offers many slants on the man. Curious that none of them led to you feeling you knew him better. I wonder if that was some subtle point the author was trying to create. Thanks for sharing, I've wondered about this one.

madrano wrote: "Interesting review, Barbara. I don't know that i'd care for it but it sounds as though it offers many slants on the man. Curious that none of them led to you feeling you knew him better. I wonder i..."

Thank you Madrano. My feeling is that the book tells us much more about the narrators themselves than about Oppenheimer. Maybe that was the author's goal - but if so, she chose a really odd format.

I finally finished Vanity Fair, where I felt everyone pretty much got what they deserve, although it was kind of a long haul getting there.

John wrote: "I finally finished Vanity Fair, where I felt everyone pretty much got what they deserve, although it was kind of a long haul getting there."

Even Amelia? I thought she got way more than she deserved. Milksop. LOL!
Well done, John. Vanity Fair is an achievement.

I just read Pieces of Me by Natalie Hart, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Costa First Novel Award. "War-torn" can refer to people as well as countries.
Link to my review

A Longmire ghost story: The Highwayman. Quick and easy, diverting and fun enough. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished Before the Fall

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2857286182

Petra wrote: "John wrote: "I finally finished Vanity Fair, where I felt everyone pretty much got what they deserve, although it was kind of a long haul getting there."

Even Amelia? I thought she got..."

It took me several weeks to get through its 28 hours! I didn't find Amelia at all a likeable heroine, so wasn't really rooting for her to overcome her reversal of fortune particularly.

John, I agree. I wasn't concerned about her future......then she got lucky......for doing nothing.

I found her father-in-law's sudden about face harder to swallow as sudden good fortune. Her son, Georgie, struck me as a real brat.

It's a pleasure to read the exchange between John & Petra about VF. I join her in congratulating you on completing the book, John. Someday i hope to do the same. (She repeated for the 20 or 30th time since buying it.)

Patty, interesting division of the book but it sounds as though it was a long haul to get to the final section. Thanks for the good recap and comments.

Craig, we drove that Wind River Canyon road in September of '15 or '16. It was striking but not as i'd imagined it. The rocks and river were great but there is not the green i thought there would be. The book sounds good.

Dem, i appreciated your comments about news coverage of tragedies. It's something people seem to watch/read despite hating to see lives ruined. I cannot imagine how some people manage to contain themselves when in public after such awful events. Thanks for adding the note about switching the way you experienced the book--from audio to print-- as well.

Thanks! That one is probably the last of the recognized Western Canon of Classics that I hadn't read in which I had any interest.

John wrote: "Her son, Georgie, struck me as a real brat."

Well that he is. I felt sorry for him with such a smothering mother. What chance had he of being anything else but a brat when he's kept in such a bubble?

I can't even remember the father-in-law's about face. It's been awhile since I've read the book.

Deb, it's an easy reading story. It's overly long but not overwhelming.

Finished reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two. I really enjoyed this book. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t since it is a play and wasn’t sure if I could look past the character names at the beginning of every sentence (if that makes sense haha), but surprisingly it was smooth reading :)
I hope the play comes here or maybe released on Netflix or something because I’d love to watch it!

Finished Thomas Murphy

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2872585504

Stephanie wrote: "Finished reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two. I really enjoyed this book. I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t since it is a play and wasn’t sure if I could ..."

I like this play; I wish I could see it performed too. 😊🌼🌸

John, finishing what you want to read from that list is another outstanding accomplishment. Nice.

Petra, i must admit it’s the length which has kept me from starting the book. I should just jump in as John did.

Stephanie, i tend to forget to look at which character is speaking when i read plays too. It slows me down but is obviously vital. Your comment made sense to me.

Dem, sorry for the disappointment. It’s always painful when an author we previously truly appreciated creates an unfortunate novel.

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz

In this 2nd book in the 'DI Daniel Hawthorne' mystery series, the Sherlockian consulting detective - and his sidekick Anthony Horowitz - investigate the murder of a lawyer. The book can be read as a standalone.

Very entertaining mystery. 3.5 stars

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Woman in the Window. This was better than I thought it was going to. The theme is similar to The Girl on the Train, but I liked this one better. There was more going on and there was more mystery to it. It was easy to read and the short chapter help. I ended up finishing this in a few days.

This book has achieved wide literary acclaim: The Emperor's Children. Goodreaders seem often not to have agreed. I think I'd suggest you know what you're getting into before you take it on. My (long-winded) review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Has anyone here read
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara ?

Dr. Dray on Youtube is gushing over it. I only hesitate due to the fact that it's around 800+ pages. I usually don't like to read big fiction books.

Barbara, the cartoons were funny and a great addition to your review. The only Horowitz i have read is Magpie Murders, which i liked (not to mention the tv programs he's written). Inserting himself in the series is a curious touch, but i suppose that helps him explain much.

Ashley, i've wondered about that book by A.J. Finn and am relieved to know it is better than Paula Hawkins novel.

Craig, interesting comments. I've read some other novels which have me wondering what the first chapter or two has to do with the 3rd. Sometimes i continue, sometimes not--mood thing, i imagine. Your review added a good take on the work for me. It's been on my TBR since it came out but that's been it, not even a sampling. Thanks.

Alias, that must be some gushing if you are considering reading it. I'm with you on large fiction novels, particularly recent ones. I'm sure i'm missing out on much, though. Let us know what you end up doing. I'm curious.

madrano wrote: "Barbara, the cartoons were funny and a great addition to your review. The only Horowitz i have read is Magpie Murders, which i liked (not to mention the tv programs he's written). I..."

Thank you Madrano. 😎

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan is certainly a versatile writer.

In this book, a London man buys a human-like robot called Adam, and - with his girlfriend - programs the android's personality. Adam has kind of a mind of his own though.....and consequences ensue.
Interesting speculative science fiction. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Alias Reader wrote: "Has anyone here read
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara ?

Dr. Dray on Youtube is gushing over it. I only hesitate due to the fa..."

YES ME! I absolutely loved it, but it probably needs to come with trigger warnings for some readers. I loved all the people - they made sense to me, as did their relationships. I'll go find a link to my review.

Ah, here it is.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And in the last comment I made to someone who liked it, I mentioned that these people seem to have taken up residence in the memories of those who loved it. I was right. They're still there.

Barbara, I'm a fan of McEwan's writing. I haven't read Machines Like Me yet. It certainly sounds interesting.

Alias, it's on my radar but I haven't read it yet.

Patty, thank you for the review. This is a book I will read one day.

PattyMacDotComma wrote: "Alias Reader wrote: "Has anyone here read
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara ?

Dr. Dray on Youtube is gushing over it. I only h..."


Thank you for the review, Patty. Since it is 800 pages it will have to be a Kindle book. I'll keep an eye out for a sale on it.

This isn't the YouTube where Dr. Dray was currently reading it but her year end review she says it was her favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_JDl...

Petra wrote: "Barbara, I'm a fan of McEwan's writing. I haven't read Machines Like Me yet. It certainly sounds interesting."

I like McEwan too Petra, though some of his books are a bit bewildering (to me). 🙂

I've only read 4 of his books. Of those, Nutshell had the strangest premise.

I like reading McEwan novels, too, but hadn't even heard of this one. It sounds up my alley, so i appreciate the review, Barbara.

Patty, thanks for reposting your review. I must say that what you wrote about it makes it sound far more interesting than the GR blurb. All i could think of was "another" one of those sorts. The posts all agree that it was a worthwhile book but the length still daunts.

I like McEwan's books - they don't have traditional plots. There is always a twist which I like.

Ok, a couple of shorter ones.
While reading The Invention of Wings, I was reminded of a wonderful short story about a family quilt I read last year called Everyday Use, by Alice Walker, who wrote The Color Purple.

I included a link to the story online (free).
5★ Link to my review and picture of an 1898 quilt

This was what reminded me of the story mentioned above. I enjoyed The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd about stubborn American women fighting slavery and inequality in the 1800s. The battle continues today!
4.5★ Link to my review

An easy read with something to say (surprisingly): Chiefs. Billed as a murder mystery, it's really more of a fictional social history. My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Julie, the twists make McEwan's work shine for me, too.

Patty, thanks for the link to the story, it was very good. I like the idea of the Kidd book, as well, and have added it to my list. When we were traveling the last few months we ran into two counties in Arkansas who practice the art of Barn Quilts. Have you heard or seen those? The owners create, paint and hang over their barn doors a large painting in the patterns of quilts. Those counties are so proud of them they offer magazines with photos & locations of the barns. Neat.

Craig, to me it's a sign of good writing when a reader can excuse some factors which call for a stretch of the imagination. The Stuart Woods mystery sounds like such a book.

Still Lives by Maria Hummel

When an artist vanishes on the night of the grand opening of her museum exhibit, the institute's copy editor/publicist decides to investigate the disappearance. This is a true literary mystery. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

madrano wrote: "Julie, the twists make McEwan's work shine for me, too.

Patty, thanks for the link to the story, it was very good. I like the idea of the Kidd book, as well, and have added it to my list. When we ..."

Barn quilts! Never heard of them! What a fantastic idea! I found plenty of info, especially here, where you can see lots of examples.
http://www.barnquiltinfo.com/

In Australia (and elsewhere, I assume) we have wonderful big paintings on silos, so tourists have been travelling through little rural towns to see the silos and spending a few precious dollars in regions that really need them. I love it all!
http://www.graincorp.com.au/about-gra...

Finished An American Marriage

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2861985123

I'm really enjoying Aussie author Sulari Gentill's Rowland Sinclair mystery series. Artists, weathy pastoralists, and religious nutters mix it up in A Decline in Prophets in Sydney in the 1930s. Lovely people!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Dem wrote: "Finished An American Marriage

My Review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2861985123"
@Dem, Fantastic review of An American Marriage. I've been looking forward to reading this, and glad it received your praise.

All the pithy cover blurbs and the gold "Now a major motion picture starring Ben Affleck" had me worried, but I found myself really enjoying this popular mystery/whodunnit: Gone Girl. I'd now be tempted to check out the parodies (shades of PRIDE & PREJUDICE & ZOMBIES??) **** My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you to each of the reviewers who today shared their opinions of the books they recently read. What a pleasurable introduction to each.

Barbara, the Hummel sounds like one i'd like to read. Learning about those true murders would make the book worthwhile on its own.

Dem, what high praise you offered. It's definitely one i will check out. Thanks.

Patty, the mystery sounds good and you've made reading from the beginning easy.

And thank you for the link to Silo Art in Australia. I've not seen much of that in the US but would welcome it. There are so many small towns who could boost their visitor rate if a highway of them was created. As you note, what a benefit for the population.

When we lived in Pennsylvania i first saw what are today called Barn Quilts. They were called Pennsylvania Dutch Hex Signs. I don't know if they are still popular, nor whether the practice has spread beyond the one or two counties where those settlers farmed. When we first saw the Barn Signs in '14, we still called them Hex signs until we learned they are their own genre, so to speak. The Hex signs were specific, as i recall, to attributes or warnings but Barn Quilts are much broader. The trip from which we just returned had the most contemporary we've seen, including airplane designs, as well as the typical.

Craig, Gone Girl was my second Gillian Flynn novel. Dark Places, which i liked quite a bit, was the first. As a result, i was disappointed in GG. Still your comments pretty much confirm my own thoughts. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was a mixed book for me because there wasn't enough of the zombie angle. It's still fun but i could have used more--the beginning was neat in the introduction of the Bennett daughters and their skills, i must add.

I think barn quilts are wonderful idea. They probably brighten up the countryside. 😊🌺🌻

Who Let the Dog Out? by David Rosenfelt

In this 13th book in the 'Andy Carpenter' series, the defense lawyer's client may have been framed by mobsters. The comedic mystery can be read as a standalone.

It's always fun to visit with Andy and his cohorts but this book has too many characters and a plot that's overly complex. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished Those Who Are Loved

My review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/2872649976

Barbara, that dog in courtroom comic is cute. Too many characters is a big downer for me.

Dem, another reading downer for me is when two characters are named similarly, unless it is vital to the plot. It torques me no end! I have enough problems remembering characters as it is. Still, the Greek history appeals to me. Thanks.

I have a 30-45 minute commute to work and was listening to audiobooks but recently a coworker got me hooked on true crime podcasts and now I am reading (or listening to) true crime books for more information than the podcasts gave or to see if there is more to the story.

I am listening to the audiobook of Crazy for You: A Passionate Affair, a Lying Widow, and a Cold-Blooded Murder. I am reading Our Little Secret: The True Story of a Teenage Killer and the Silence of a Small New England Town.

So far I haven't confused the 2 crimes and books.