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Post by acookertv on Jun 9, 2018 1:25:54 GMT
This week I finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I knew nothing of the book until a friend suggested it for our book club, and I lived it! It’s the story of a writer chosen to write a profile piece on a former Hollywood bombshell, and her process of learning about the actresses life. It was well written with lots of unexpected twists.
Now, I’m reading The Body by Stephen King. I LOVE kings writing style, and love the movie Stand by Me. I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to read it!
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Post by Arielflies on Jun 9, 2018 5:09:44 GMT
I used to have all of Kellermans' books when I was buying paperbacks, but now on Kindle I don't want to pay the money so have a few, but not the series. The paperbacks are all gone - allergy to the printed page made opening a book almost unbearable. I was ecstatic when Kindle was invented, but my purchasing power hit the toilet so now I order really cheap to free mostly fantasy books. **sigh**
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Post by betty80 on Jun 9, 2018 13:07:13 GMT
If anyone is on the goodreads website, they give away free books. I've won several.
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Post by Arielflies on Jun 9, 2018 13:15:38 GMT
I am and I didn't realize that. Thanks.
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Post by betty80 on Jun 9, 2018 18:38:20 GMT
The giveaways are listed under "Browse." Good luck!
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Post by Critical on Jun 10, 2018 0:36:40 GMT
I've read quite a bit over the lasts few months, but posting about all of them feels like too much. Here are some highlights (and lowlights):
My Days by Marion Ross: I grew up watching Happy Days, so I really wanted to read this one. It was just okay. Sort of like if your grandma wrote her memoir. Sweet and nice, but nothing that earth shattering. She didn't have an idyllic life, by any means, but the story wasn't told in a way that made it all that interesting. I hate that I didn't like it more than I did.
Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim: I also grew up watching Little House on the Prairie and this was great fun. AA gave lots of juicy details, but not in a mean way and she definitely didn't let herself off the hook. Definitely a must-read for any fans of LHotP. 
Like Brothers by Mark and Jay Duplass: A memoir written by both brothers about their childhood, the growth of their career in show business and their unusually close relationship. I knew them from their various acting roles and some of the projects they've produced (including Wild Wild Country on Netflix), but I didn't know much about them as people. I was really impressed with them and more than a little envious of their relationship.
The Most Beautiful: My Life With Prince by Mayte Garcia: Mayte was Prince's first wife and this is her memoir of her life before, during and after him. I'll admit that I think I misjudged her at the time and didn't give her as much credit as she deserved. I ended up being incredibly impressed with her. She has far more intelligence and depth than I gave her credit for. Definitely a must-read for fans of Prince.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin: Probably my favorite novel of the last few months. The story begins with four young siblings visiting a medium who tells them each (individually) the day they will die. The story then follows each sibling as their lives count down to that date.
Visible Empire by Hannah Pittard: I really wish I liked this book more than I did. It's based on a true story of a plan crash in the early 60s that killed around 100 members of Atlanta society. The books tells the story of the aftermath. I just never felt like I knew any of the characters.
Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday: I just finished this one and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's almost two separate stories with a smaller part at the end featuring one of the characters from the first story. It was beautifully written, but the first story didn't grab me. I think I would have been happier if the second story had some first. It was more interesting to me.
Currently, I'm reading Davis Sedaris' new one, Calypso on my Kindle. It's much more personal than some of his previous books, all of which I loved. I'm not too far into it yet, but I love his writing so much. I'm also reading David Grann's Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birt of the FBI. The wife of a man in my book club is reading it in her book club and her talking about it a bit made me want to read it. Of course, I already had a galley of it and, because I just shelved and reshelved a bunch of books, I knew where it was! So far, it's very good.
I normally read mostly fiction, but I've been on a bit of a non-fiction kick lately.
Burntbrat - I have that Jesmyn Ward book, but haven't read it yet (big surprise!). I await your review!
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Post by beerbelly on Jun 10, 2018 1:59:54 GMT
Oooh, do let me know how you find 'Calypso', I've enjoyed the essays he had in the New Yorker recently. His sister committed suicide which I have thought about during this week of deaths.
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burntbrat
FORT Regular
Avoiding responsibility
Posts: 483
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Post by burntbrat on Jun 10, 2018 2:21:06 GMT
I <3 Goodreads. I've entered a bunch of giveaways for books on my to-read list, but I've never won one.
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Post by Bearcata on Jun 11, 2018 2:28:00 GMT
Jumangi - the children's book that the movie is based on a quick read or listen. Interesting to see how they took the story and made it a movie.
Hot and Badgered - by Shelly Larenston - a paranormal shifter book. This starts a new trilogy in the shifter world that the author recreated. It was OK not her best effort. I listened to the audiobook and it was awful because the reader had not done her homework in regards to previous characters and did the voices all wrong. To be honest I think a lot of the 5 star reviews on Amazon and Audible were fake.
Beseiged - I thought this was another book in Kevin Herne's Iron Druid series and it is more of a collection of short stories. I didn't mind the short stories I really minded that it was not clear that this was not the next major book in the series.
Darkest Powers series - by Kelley Armstrong. This is the author's attempt to capture the Young Adult crowd. I think her publisher must have pushed her to do this series to cash in on the Harry Potter craze. While I had listened to the first book ages ago I finally had the opportunity to listen to the entire trilogy. The Summoning, The Awakening, and The Reckoning. OMG, can you drag out a story plot more. This should have been one novel not three and needed much more plot. The attitude of some of the teens was so bad that I hoped someone would shoot them. You cannot stop and rescue everyone.
To suffer some more I also listened to the first two books of the authors The Darkness Rising trilogy and the same lack of plot was agonizing. The same questioning everything by the teens was horrible. I have followed the tv series Alone for 4 seasons by now and to listen to these kids swim several miles from an island off the coast of Vancouver Island to VI was appalling ... hypothermia in minutes people. To listen to them trek quiet easily though one of the worlds most brutal temperate rain forests was ridiculous. Do your research before you write a book please.
I do like the author's OtherWorld series it is wonderful, but these novels show how talented a author must be to write good Young Adult fiction.
Metro Girl and Motor Mouth is a duo about Alexandra Barnaby and written by Janet Evanovich which means it is crazy and fun.
Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine a YA set in a futuristic age. Very, very good. Didn't like the main character much especially at the beginning but the story was good.
Chomp - by Carl Hiaasen this was fun and a good commuter book to listen too.
Dark Star - by Bethany Frenette - another fun YA
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Post by Critical on Jun 11, 2018 2:33:39 GMT
I've practically plowed through Killers of the Flower Moon. SO good! I highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in the true crime genre. It's hard to believe it happened less than 100 years ago. We still do have corruption in law enforcement, but this is a whole different level of corruption and evil. The book is definitely a page-turner. I'll finish it tonight.
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Post by ibot2much on Jun 11, 2018 14:29:29 GMT
Currently half way through PACHINKO and love it. I had no interest in or knowledge of the Korean/Japanese issues, but the book about one family is just wonderful.
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Post by Critical on Jun 13, 2018 0:13:17 GMT
I have Pachinko - we saw Min Jin Lee speak ahead of the release - and tried to find it just now and came up empty. I'll have to go spelunking in my new bookcase later! Since everything is double-shelved, it's a little harder to find things, although easier than when it was all in stacks on the floor!  I'll be waiting for your review! I finished Killers of the Flower Moon on Sunday ( ) and read IQ by Joe Ide yesterday. We heard Ide speak on his book tour for Righteous, the second book in the IQ series. I don't like NOT starting at the beginning of a series, so I had to unearth IQ first! Really entertaining detective fiction - I've seen it referred to as "Quentin Tarantino meets Shelrock Holmes." I'm just starting Righteous and hoping I can score a free copy of the next book in the series this fall! |
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denz
FORT Member
Posts: 53
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Post by denz on Jun 15, 2018 3:35:47 GMT
Almost halfway through Hunger by Roxane Gay.
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Post by betty80 on Jun 15, 2018 17:23:20 GMT
I am reading "Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice" - the movie was based on this book. It is by Paula Byrne.
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Post by beerbelly on Jun 15, 2018 17:37:10 GMT
I'm reading 'Diary of a Mad Playwright' by James Kirkwood. Kirkwood wrote the book "A Chorus Line". This book chronicles the arduous task of getting stars (Carol Channing and Mary Martin), going through rehearsals with these two divas, the crazy producers, the multitude of re-writes...
It is so enjoyable and has such great gossip. Sadly Kirkwood died shortly after writing this book of AIDS.
I totally recommend this book to anyone who loves the theater!
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Post by Bearcata on Jun 15, 2018 19:23:04 GMT
OMG, I am so excited Janet Evanovich has another Fox and O'Hare book called "The Mark" coming out August 18, 2018. I luv the series it is so funny.
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Post by Bearcata on Jun 24, 2018 2:17:11 GMT
Rogues of the Republic (trilogy) by Patrick Weekes - listened to audiobook
1. Palace Job
2. Prophecy Con
3. Paladin Caper
Wow, absolutely fabulous. At first it looks as if it is a Dungeons and Dragons fantasy novel, but it is done so smartly with modern day touches, explaining how to maintain magical devices almost as if it is computer, and listening to mages explain magical theory like college professors, or total geeks, with a bit of con men and police detective thrown in.
This is so suited to a long road trip, gardening, hiking, waiting in the airport etc ...
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burntbrat
FORT Regular
Avoiding responsibility
Posts: 483
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Post by burntbrat on Jun 24, 2018 3:26:02 GMT
Burntbrat - I have that Jesmyn Ward book, but haven't read it yet (big surprise!). I await your review!
I'm just going to copy my review from Goodreads because I'm lazy. Oh I loved this book. I loved the tone. I loved the poetry. I loved Jojo most of all. I think I was supposed to, but I don't feel betrayed by that. Sometimes during the book I forgot that it was set in modern times. So when someone pulled out a cell phone I was surprised and shocked out of an old-time reverie. Sobering. That's a good word for the feel of the story at times. Unforgiving at other times. Terrified for Kayla most of the time. And in the end, not hopeful, but at least steady. I guess that's all we can ask for sometimes. |
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burntbrat
FORT Regular
Avoiding responsibility
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Post by burntbrat on Jun 24, 2018 3:32:18 GMT
I'm reading "On Writing" by Stephen King at the moment. I'm definitely buying this book. I checked it out from the library thinking it would help me, but I don't think it's a book that I can only read once.
I'm also listening to "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt. I really, really need to look at how long an audio book is before I check it out. This book is so long. It's good so far, but a bit... over descriptive. There's no way I'm going to finish listening to it in time. I know I can check it out again but I have some librarian friends and apparently on digital loans they get dinged for every checkout and have to renew a license after so many, so I feel bad if I don't finish in one checkout. Argh.
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Post by acookertv on Jun 24, 2018 11:51:40 GMT
I LOVE On Writing! But I must admit it’s made me more critical of bad writing! I can no longer excuse it saying “oh well it was a creative story”
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Post by Navybelle on Jun 27, 2018 4:45:41 GMT
I'm reading "On Writing" by Stephen King at the moment. I'm definitely buying this book. I checked it out from the library thinking it would help me, but I don't think it's a book that I can only read once. I'm also listening to "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt. I really, really need to look at how long an audio book is before I check it out. This book is so long. It's good so far, but a bit... over descriptive. There's no way I'm going to finish listening to it in time. I know I can check it out again but I have some librarian friends and apparently on digital loans they get dinged for every checkout and have to renew a license after so many, so I feel bad if I don't finish in one checkout. Argh. I listened to "The Goldfinch" too, also not realizing how long it was. I slogged my way through it, wanting to quit a few times, and then, my time was up and it had to go back to the library! Boom- deleted. I could've put in to check it out again, but I just wasn't that into it. So, I missed the very end. Not sure what happened to the guy, but I'm not sure I cared by that point either. If you get that far, you'll have to let me know if it was worth it! Interesting about the "dings" - I had no idea! I hardly ever take more than one turn with a book, but it's good to know. Recently my library has purchased additional copies of some titles, thankfully, so I'm no longer something like #472 on a book. I'm on Goodreads too - it's a good way for me to keep track of what I've read, and to read what others think of the books. |
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Post by Navybelle on Jul 2, 2018 4:19:21 GMT
I just finished "The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah (who also wrote The Nightingale, which I liked). It was very good, though there were some disturbing parts. I stayed up way too late last night to get through a particularly compelling part, but it was worth it.
I was a youngster in the 70s too, so I guess I could relate a little bit with the daughter in the story. She has adventure-seeking parents (with issues), and they move to the bush of Alaska hoping it will resolve some of their problems. Of course, it doesn't. The descriptions of Alaska are outstanding, and there are some very interesting characters there too. The ending of the book left me a little dissatisfied, but all in all, it was a good read.
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Post by acookertv on Jul 2, 2018 9:51:26 GMT
Thanks for the review Navybelle! My book club just chose that as our next book, and I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'm going to read it. My hesitation is coming primarily because we just recently read Educated by Tara Westover and I feel like the two seem very similar - just one being a true story and the other fiction. There are several other books in my stack right now I want to read, so I can't decide if I want to go back to the isolated wilderness or not!
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Post by Critical on Jul 3, 2018 10:49:19 GMT
Oooh, do let me know how you find 'Calypso', I've enjoyed the essays he had in the New Yorker recently. His sister committed suicide which I have thought about during this week of deaths. I just finished it this morning. Very good, but not as laugh-out-loud funny as, say Me Talk Pretty One Day. I remember reading that while my mom was visiting and I was laughing so hard that I had to put it down because I worried I'd wake her up. Calypso is much more introspective and personal. LOTS about his family and about his partner and about his sister Tiffany (the one who killed herself). Some funny moments, but like I said, not totally hilarious. I'd definitely recommend it if you're a Sedaris fan, but not if you're hoping for his usual overtly funny stuff. |
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Post by Kao on Jul 5, 2018 18:46:06 GMT
Just finished "The Valley of Amazement" by Amy Tan, and starting "The Shining Girls" by Lauren Beukes. I've previously enjoyed her book Broken Monsters and decided to read something else by this author.
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Post by FannyMare on Jul 5, 2018 19:02:12 GMT
The perfect mother. I didnt guess the ending, and I usually guess correctly.
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Post by olivialynlee on Jul 8, 2018 21:13:53 GMT
Just finished “Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn and “Circe” by Madeline Miller. Really enjoyed both of them, but I adored Circe. I am fascinated by all mythology so it was up my alley and it was just beautifully written. I would definitely recommend both of these books.
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Post by Navybelle on Jul 9, 2018 4:37:54 GMT
I'm currently reading "As Bright As Heaven" by Susan Meissner. It's really good so far: a novel set in Philadelphia near the end of WW1, and I have to admit not knowing anything about the epidemic of flu that killed so many people around that time. Sad and interesting at the same time. I loved one of her other books, "Secrets of a Charmed Life" so once I heard about this one I had to get it. I love her storytelling.
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burntbrat
FORT Regular
Avoiding responsibility
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Post by burntbrat on Jul 10, 2018 1:11:44 GMT
Just finished “Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn and “Circe” by Madeline Miller. Really enjoyed both of them, but I adored Circe. I am fascinated by all mythology so it was up my alley and it was just beautifully written. I would definitely recommend both of these books. is on my TBR list. I've only heard great things about it! |
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Katydyd
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Post by Katydyd on Jul 10, 2018 18:33:45 GMT
The perfect mother. I didnt guess the ending, and I usually guess correctly. Ohh thanks for that!! It's sitting on my bed stand - next in line  ! Just finished "Jar of Hearts" - creepy good and I ran through it. It's pretty short, and fast reading. I just started "The Last Time I Lied" by Riley Sager. Riley Sager wrote "The Final Girls" which I read last year (also excellent!). Definitely in thriller mode right now...... |
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I'll be waiting for your review! 
! Just finished "Jar of Hearts" - creepy good and I ran through it. It's pretty short, and fast reading. I just started "The Last Time I Lied" by Riley Sager. Riley Sager wrote "The Final Girls" which I read last year (also excellent!). Definitely in thriller mode right now......