Sharon’s Comments (group member since Sep 16, 2011)

Sharon’s comments from the Exceptional Books group.

Thanks Duy! I didn't know about that one either.

Jane, thanks for the sources you list. It's wonderful to find new places to look for good books with good reviews, honest reviews.

Ha ha! Duygu, I have way too many to read as well, but I love that actually. I will get through as many as I can. I have never been to either site and since it was recommended by a couple of you, I will study both. Thank you for the suggestions! Been super busy getting a sister settled in a nursing home and dealing with her home and things.

I hadn't heard of that, so thank you for informing us all who didn't know.

I like that one, DC. I'll check it out.

Leonard, you were in Amistad?? That's terrific! That movie made such an impression on me, I sometimes have nightmares about the scenes where they threw people overboard chained together. Do you still act?

That's an idea I haven't heard and I'll check it out. I'm just back in town this evening. Thank you!

Audio books are great. I used to listen regularly in the car when I traveled further than now. Having voice makes books come alive and some are truly excellent.

I didn't know we could link to a library or bookstore from GR! What a great feature.

The smells of nature are nice, often. The open space beside us was mowed a couple days ago, and it always smells sweet and fresh after mowing. Pine woods are aromatic too.

Wonderful suggestions! Libraries are terrific. I've been thinking about volunteering at our local one just so I can smell books all day!

I do that sometimes, too, but I only read a few reviews, none with spoilers, and I choose reviews from high to low. I also like coming at a book cold, as long as I think I'll like it from the synopsis. At home I have many unread books and don't read about those online. I try to choose one now and then that I think I could swap online on paperbackswap.com. Some of those are surprisingly good and I wind up keeping them! You can't tell a book by its cover.

I haven't done group reads yet, mainly because I have a library of books I want to read and there is always something new coming out of interest. My hope is to read what's in my library and keep only the books I feel are good enough to pass on to my kids. Maybe it will save them a few mediocre reads.

Do you like group reads, Alice, and if so, what do you enjoy about them. Describe what you mean by group reads. Do you mean group reads on the groups here on GR? It IS nice to be able to discuss a book with someone else.

It's good to read something outside of one's current "rut" now and then. I've found some wonderful books and even some favorites that way. Variety is good.

I agree totally and have found that to be so true.

Sometimes on Amazon when searching, other books or suggestions come up, and occasionally there are some very good books that way. I like Amy's librarian suggestion too and Bobby's Bookmark magazine. I also look at ratings on Amazon and Goodreads, though that isn't fail-proof. Once a book I loved and still remember clearly wound up with 3+ ratings due to a few people who didn't obviously read the book carefully. I wouldn't normally read a book with lower ratings, and I've read some with stellar ratings that I didn't like at all.

I find books everywhere. Some I find various ways on GR, some on Amazon based on type of book and ratings, from GR friends, giveaways, NPR occasionally, a mention in a magazine or the paper, & and have some at home acquired in various ways that I want to read. I'm on a book swap list and find a few that way. If I read a new (to me) author that impresses me, I look for other things that author has written.

I just saw Mud a few days ago and highly recommend it to everyone.

Argo, especially for those who remember the historical event when it happened. Argo is the back story that was never in the news because it was classified.

Beasts of the Southern Wild
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
White Oleander

Some good books have horrid characters, like Hannibal Lecter. Books would be boring if all the characters were likable, wouldn't they?

I have to believe that almost every book is thought out carefully. But some books are exceptional. It seems to be a combination of the writing and the story, because it's possible to have one and not the other in a book. Most people wouldn't find a book with just one of those elements exceptional.

It's hard to say exactly what makes a book exceptional, but we seem to know it when we read it. Next time you read an exceptional book, think about what makes it that way for you.