Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is a Thread for you to list the books you read in June 2013.


Please provide:
~ A GoodRead link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

I had a wonderful month of reading in June. One of my best ever! I'm the "other Connie" - from St. Louis.

Harvest- Jim Crace. This book is set in England in some earlier time, although the time is never specified....it's probably 16th or 17th century. Residents of a small unnamed village work hard to feed their families and keep roofs over their heads, but things change when a family of outsiders move into their isolated area. I love Jim Crace and I loved this book but I'm so glad I read it on my iPad because I probably had to look up 100 words, and I never would have had the patience to do that with a paper book. But although the story was simple, and told by a simple narrator, I couldn't wait to find out how it ended.

Beautiful Ruins- Jess Walter. Two friends told me they didn't like Beautiful Ruins, so as I read it, I kept waiting to get to the parts that I wouldn't like, but that never happened. I loved this book. The story is set in a tiny village on the coast of Italy and concerns (among others) an innkeeper, a struggling author, a dying actress and Richard Burton. The last chapter was beautifully done, weaving together the stories of the main characters and some minor characters only referred to in the book. This is more than chick lit (which I've seen it referred to as) - it's a very good book.

The Silver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick. I've never seen the movie version of this story and now that I've read the book, I'm not sure I want to. I completely enjoyed the story as it's told here. A young man, not too long out of a mental hospital, works hard to get himself into shape so that he can be reunited (he believes) with his wife. The narrative voice of the man is very childlike and innocent, as he believes that every cloud has a silver lining. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Now I just have to decide if I should see the movie.

The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story - Lily Koppel. The distaff side of one of my favorite books - The Right Stuff. The stories of what it was like to be one of the wives of the first 7 Mercury astronauts. They were the first, and all eyes were on them....their families, their homes, what they wore, everything. It was an exciting time, thrilling and tragic, sometimes in the same week. This was a fast read and an enjoyable one.

Once We Were Brothers - Ronald Balson. There were times during this book when I thought I was going to hate it, but I wound up enjoying it more than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. A wealthy Chicago philanthropist is accused of having been a Nazi during WWII and the man who accuses him, who grew up with him, enlists a young female lawyer to hear his story and hopefully take his case. The writing wasn't great, but the story was very good, and sometimes you just have to settle for one or the other.

Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted: And all the Brilliant Minds Who Made The Mary Tyler Moore Show a Classic- Jennifer Keishin Armstrong. The behind-the-scenes story of the creation and production of the groundbreaking 1970's TV series. A fast and fun read, especially if you remember, as I do, watching The Mary Tyler Moore show on Saturday nights. If you watched in on Nick at Nite decades later, you might not appreciate what a giant impact a 30-minute sitcom made on the culture at the time.

After Her- Joyce Maynard. Two young sisters grow up in Northern California, daughters of a handsome police officer and an uninvolved reclusive mother. When a serial killer starts murdering young women in their area and their father is in charge of the case, the sisters' lives change, as does their fathers. There were plenty of things I liked about this book, as I almost always enjoy Joyce Maynard's writing. But here there were things I didn't care for - particularly that one of the girls had "visions" about the killer. And whether the "visions" were right or wrong or even imagined, I just don't really go for that kind of psychic thing. I'm kind of neutral on this book - just finished it this morning - so maybe I just need some more time to let things sink in.

Connie wrote: "I had a wonderful month of reading in June. One of my best ever!

Beautiful Ruins- Jess Walter. Two friends told me they didn't like Beautiful Ruins, so as I read it, I kept waiting to get to the parts that I wouldn't like, but that never happened. I loved this book. The story is set in a tiny village on the coast of Italy and concerns (among others) an innkeeper, a struggling author, a dying actress and Richard Burton. The last chapter was beautifully done, weaving together the stories of the main characters and some minor characters only referred to in the book. This is more than chick lit (which I've seen it referred to as) - it's a very good book.
======================

Excellent month, Connie from St. Louis ! :)

I have Beautiful Ruins on my TBR list. I am so happy to hear you liked it. The reviews I read were mixed. I absolutely love stories that are set in Italy. Also the cover is so pretty.

Congratulations on a terrific reading month !

Patrice wrote: I'm still working on Ovid's Metamorphoses Metamorphoses I read it last over 40 years ago, in college. It has really knocked me for a loop this time. It is SO brilliant and SO current. I really can't get it out of my mind, If you think about it, everything is metamorphosizing all of the time. Seasons, our bodies, children growing, etc. The only constant is change. But I'm sure I won't be done with this one until at least August!
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I think I own that book. I'm not sure. I have to check. Anyway, thanks for your thoughts on it as you are reading it. It's sounds amazing.

Connie wrote: "I had a wonderful month of reading in June. One of my best ever! I'm the "other Connie" - from St. Louis..."

I literally JUST downloaded The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story to my Nook--looking forward to reading it! Especially now that I've read your positive review, Other Connie. :)

Connie, glad to read your comments on Astronaut's Wives, as i wondered about that one. It looks good & a subject i've thought about since reading The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe and learning about their groupies.

Patrice, i laughed out loud at your "filed under O" comment. Of all places, eh? So often those older, college books fall apart as i (re)read them. Indeed, this is happening to me now as i read Orlando! And it's not that old. Bummer.

My reading list for June was what I would call "adequate." All of the books that I finished received either a 2.5 or 3-star rating from me--they were decent-enough reads, but nothing spectacular. I'm hoping July will be better and I'll end up with a book that knocks my socks off. ;)

The Forever Marriage by Ann Bauer: The story of a woman who has been unhappily married --or so she believes-- for more than 20 years. When her husband dies of cancer (in the first chapter--not a spoiler), she begins to reflect back on their marriage and finds herself falling in love with him now that he's gone. A fairly decent examination of relationships, the mistakes we make, and the regrets that result. 3 stars

Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King: A book of five interconnected, sequential stories, with the recurrent theme of the 1960s and the Vietnam War. I liked it, but I found a few of the narratives to be stronger than the others, which made for an uneven reading experience on my part. 3 stars

The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Mark Logue: Based on the diaries of Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped King George VI overcome his stuttering problem. The movie was apparently based on this book. Although in scope it follows the film, it deals with the earlier periods of both King’s and therapist’s lives, and follows them to the ends of their lives (in 1952 and 1953, respectively), whereas the film climaxed with the King’s great speech of 1945, on the eve of World War II. If you enjoyed the film and you want to know more details, it's a solid read. 3 stars

The Raising by Laura Kasischke: A seemingly paranormal mystery set on a college campus in Michigan. It held my attention until the end, but the ending was really rather unsatisfying and abrupt. This one netted 2.5 stars.

This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman: A sobering novel about privacy and the Internet and the rash choices made by teens that haunt them later. A 15-year-old boy wakes up one morning after an unchaperoned party and finds an email in his in-box from an eighth-grade admirer. Attached is a sexually explicit video she has made for him. Shocked, stunned, maybe a little proud, and scared — a jumble of adolescent emotion — he forwards the video to a friend, who then forwards it to a friend. Within hours, it’s gone viral, all over the school, the city, and the world. The book explores the effect that one simple "click" of the computer keyboard has on the lives of the girl, the boy, and their families. 3 stars

The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell: The fourth in a series about Swedish detective Kurt Wallander. A good, solid thriller. 3 stars.

I enjoyed reading your reviews, Amy. Thanks for sharing with the group. Hearts in Atlantis is at least 600 pages. You sure read a lot this month.

Alias Reader wrote: "I enjoyed reading your reviews, Amy. Thanks for sharing with the group. Hearts in Atlantis is at least 600 pages. You sure read a lot this month."

Well, it's a Stephen King book. Not classic literature. You can pretty much zone out partway through and still figure out what happens at the end. LOL. Plus the other books were fairly quick reads as well.

Actually, I feel like I've been reading less lately than I usually do. Busy at work, plus we spent a week driving to Maryland and Virginia to do college visits with my youngest son. I just started Life After Life this morning--that's a hefty one for which I have high hopes.

My June reads were

Mobbed: A Regan Reilly Mystery byCarol Higgins Clark
Rating 3/5
This was a fluff read but enjoyable


Wilful Behaviour byDonna Leon
Rating 3/5
This part of the series of a Venetian policeman that I enjoy reading

The Cruelest MonthLouise Penny

Rating 3/5
This part of a series of Canadian Superindent of the Surete The mysteries are good and the characters charming



Elsewhere by Richard Russo
Rating 5/5
This was a memoir of one of my favorite authors

Uniform Justice byDonna Leon
Rating 3/5

Very nice reading month, Meredith !

I am so happy you gave a top rating to Elsewhere as I have it on my TBR list.

Thanks Connie, Harvest has been added to my TBR.

In June I read:

The Light Between Oceans~~M.L. Stedman
Fiction
Rate 2/5
In 1918 Australia, a lighthouse keeper and his wife find a baby washed up in a boat and decide to keep her .
I read this for a library group. It was a good read but it was slow in parts. The characters weren't well fleshed out and the book wasn't very believable. I was looking forward to reading this novel, but I was disappointed. The group I read it with like it much more than I did.


The End of Your Life Book Club~Will Schwalbe
Rate 4/5
Non-fiction
Audio Book- Read by Jeff Harding
The story of a son and his dying mother, who form a 'book club' for just the two of them. I thought the book would be too depressing. Instead, I found it very inspiring. So much so, that I plan on reading the paper book next month. Be warned, your TBR will expand greatly. :)
Here is a link to the books they discussed.
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/30...

I thought I would be able to finish
Martha Washington: An American Life
but that will have to be next month.

Meredith wrote: "The Cruelest MonthLouise Penny

Rating 3/5
This part of a series of Canadian Superindent of the Surete The mysteries are good and the characters charming..."

I've read the first 3 of these & still can't decide if i like the series or not. I continue because my sister-in-law loves them. The characters are charming, as is the town, but for some reason it's not going down as nicely as i'd wish. Too much charm? Have i become a curmudgeon? Moi?

ANYway, here are the books i read this month. I thought i'd finish Orlando by now but haven't. Nor did i finish my Mind of the Middle Ages, as i though it would LAST MONTH. :-)

Just off Fifth, written in the late '50s by Edith Begner. Rather well-to-do people in NYC. The new tenant in the building is a famous author, who ends up wreaking havoc for a long-term tenant family. Interesting bits of psychology. But not a great book, imo.

The Body Snatchers, an early '50s science fiction book by Jack Finney. If you've seen the movies, you know the story. Still it was neat to read it develop. Oddly, the book was more upbeat than either movie. Curious, as i'd expect it the other way around. I like Finney's writing, as i can see myself in the circumstances from the beginning.

The tv show Flashforward was based on this science fiction novel by Robert J. Sawyer but they changed the setting & careers of the main characters. Still an interesting premise--the entire world is rendered into a sleep state for almost 2 minutes. Everyone had a vision of the world 20 or so years in the future, so knew where they would be then. If you didn't have a vision, odds are you would be dead. I liked this one.

I've mentioned One Day the Wind Changed: Stories by Tracy Daugherty a couple of times. It's a collection of short stories, mostly set in arid west Texas or New Mexico. I thought the author caught the desert inhabitants nicely. The final story, more a novella, was set in Manhattan & i felt he did just as good a job with that. I'm going to find more by him, just to see if this was a fluke or not. One of my favorite stories was titled, "The Sailor Who Drowned in the Desert", about a vision an entire congregation experienced after a church service.

While all these are fiction, i read parts of two nonfiction books. I'm often intrigued when i do that, finish the fiction but not the nonfiction. Must be a mood thing.

deb

Madrano wrote:
Just off Fifth, written in the late '50s by Edith Begner. Rather well-to-do people in NYC. The new tenant in the building is a famous author, who ends up wreaking havoc for a long-term tenant family. Interesting bits of psychology. But not a great book, imo.
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I recall when you purchased this one. It sounded so promising. Sorry to here it wasn't the winner it sounded like it would be.

Madrano wrote: "The tv show Flashforward was based on this science fiction novel by Robert J. Sawyer..."

I had no idea the show was based on a book! My son and I watched the show, and we were disappointed when it was cancelled because it left us without any resolution. He'll be thrilled to know he can read the book and find out what was supposed to happen! Thanks, Deb! :)

I read only six books this month.

The Imagination of Charles Dickens by A.O.J. Cockshut. I gave it 3 stars because I found it somewhat dry. I really pushed myself to get through it.

Charles Dickens: A Critical Study by George R. Gissing. I gave it 4 1/2 stars because Gissing was able to know Dickens and share it with the reader. Each book is chronologically reviewed indepth. Gissing felt that Oliver Twist had two moral purposes: (1) to exhibit the evil workings of the poor in the Poor Law Act and (2) to give a faithful picture of the life of the thieves in London. Dickens felt that the "pauper system" was directly responsible for a great deal of crime. Dickens felt that the workhouses separated families -- husbands & wives, parents & children, which promoted individual suffering. Dickens stated, "I wished to show in little Oliver, the principal of good surviving through everyday adverse circumstances and triumphing at last."

by Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg. I gave it 4 stars because it was a completely, enjoyable conversation (audio) with Julia Cameron and Natalie Goldberg.

Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. I gave it 3 stars.
I read this with my mom's senior book group and no one liked it. I gave it 3 stars for the first half of the book which I really enjoyed. I know that this was a multi-million dollar success in Korea but, for me, the first half of the book had great characters, dialogue . . . you just loved "mom." But after she disappeared, the writing became terrible. The writer began to “Tell, not show.” You would think one character was talking, but then you discover that it was someone else who was reliving a time from the past. It got so bad, that I never knew which character was talking because they were all angry, and anxious. Once the writing of "Show. Don't Tell"was gone, I lost all interest. Believe me, I really tried to finish this book. Honestly I really loved the first half, but the second half was just terrible. I don't know if this is because of the translation or not.

Fighting Angel: Portrait Of A Soul by Pearl S. Buck I gave it 4 1/2 stars!
What a life Pearl S. Buck had!! In my opinion, her indifferent father, Absalom Syndenstricker (1852-1931), must have had Asperger's because throughout the book, he reveals those tendencies in how he lived. It must have been difficult having a father who put all his time, money and effort to convert the Chinese to become Christians, especially through wars and revolutions. Thank God that Pearl had a mother who loved and nurtured her children. Basically all the responsibilities were on her mother’s shoulders. He didn't value his wife, daughters -- only his sons. The girls were only good enough to clean, make his food and take care of children. This book expresses Pearl's conflicted portrait of her missionary father. She later remarked that reading Melville's Moby Dick "saved her soul. "Perhaps she saw something of her father in Captain Ahab, a figure also bent on a mission. Pearl Sydenstricker Buck was born in 1892 in Hillsboro, West Virginia, when her parents were on a missionary furlough. Her father was a man who only saw his "work" (a lifetime of evangelizing) and barely had any close relationship with his wife and children. One part I thought was endearing was the reaction of the children regarding shipment of goods her mother ordered (allowing each child only a $1 item) from Montgomery Ward. Her mother continued to support her husband, even when them missionary organization tried to eliminate his position when he turned 70 years. It was his wife who fought for him and got his job back. He never recognized or thanked her for what she did. Throughout his life, he never valued her work. He didn't even want to see her on her death bed. He walked in and she was unconscious, and took her last breathe, and immediately, he went back to his work in his office. He never shed a tear that day or even on the day she was buried. (I really feel that he had Asperger's Syndrome.)


The Immense Journey by Loren Eiseley. I gave 5 stars!
American anthropologist, educator, philosopher, and natural science writer, Loren Eiseley was an exceptional writer. The Immense Journey is a beautiful, introspective, brilliant and poetical work of writing. It not only involves anthropology but also archaeology, paleontology, biology, geology, and chemistry. This book was published in 1957 and praised as a "delightful journey, full of beautiful images and fascinating ideas." (Great cover image.)

Carol wrote: Dickens felt that the "pauper system" was directly responsible for a great deal of crime. Dickens felt that the workhouses separated families -- husbands & wives, parents & children, which promoted individual suffering. Dickens stated, "I wished to show in little Oliver, the principal of good surviving through everyday adverse circumstances and triumphing at last."
------------

I believe Dickens own father was sent to debtors prison. His family joined him there. I am sure it had a huge effect on him. After that Dickens had to go to work in a blacking factory. A experience that was extremely harsh.

Carol wrote: Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. I gave it 3 stars.
I read this with my mom's senior book group and no one liked it. I gave it 3 stars for the first half of the book which I really enjoyed. I know that this was a multi-million dollar success in Korea but, for me, the first half of the book had great characters, dialogue . . . you just loved "mom." But after she disappeared, the writing became terrible. The writer began to “Tell, not show.” You would think one character was talking, but then you discover that it was someone else who was reliving a time from the past. It got so bad, that I never knew which character was talking because they were all angry, and anxious. Once the writing of "Show. Don't Tell"was gone, I lost all interest. Believe me, I really tried to finish this book. Honestly I really loved the first half, but the second half was just terrible. I don't know if this is because of the translation or not.
-----------------------

I read this with my library book. I finished it but did not like it at all. I gave it 1 star. I thought the portrayal of the mom as a near saint was over the top and not very realistic.

Carol wrote:Fighting Angel: Portrait Of A Soul by Pearl S. Buck I gave it 4 1/2 stars!
What a life Pearl S. Buck had!! In my opinion, her indifferent father, Absalom Syndenstricker (1852-1931), must have had Asperger's because throughout the book, he reveals those tendencies in how he lived. It must have been difficult having a father who put all his time, money and effort to convert the Chinese to become Christians, especially through wars and revolutions. Thank God that Pearl had a mother who loved and nurtured her children. Basically all the responsibilities were on her mother’s shoulders. He didn't value his wife, daughters -- only his sons. The girls were only good enough to clean, make his food and take care of children. This book expresses Pearl's conflicted portrait of her missionary father. She later remarked that reading Melville's Moby Dick "saved her soul. "Perhaps she saw something of her father in Captain Ahab, a figure also bent on a mission. Pearl Sydenstricker Buck was born in 1892 in Hillsboro, West Virginia, when her parents were on a missionary furlough. Her father was a man who only saw his "work" (a lifetime of evangelizing) and barely had any close relationship with his wife and children. One part I thought was endearing was the reaction of the children regarding shipment of goods her mother ordered (allowing each child only a $1 item) from Montgomery Ward. Her mother continued to support her husband, even when them missionary organization tried to eliminate his position when he turned 70 years. It was his wife who fought for him and got his job back. He never recognized or thanked her for what she did. Throughout his life, he never valued her work. He didn't even want to see her on her death bed. He walked in and she was unconscious, and took her last breathe, and immediately, he went back to his work in his office. He never shed a tear that day or even on the day she was buried. (I really feel that he had Asperger's Syndrome.)


-------------------------

Thanks for this review, Carol. I've added to my TBR list.

I do have another non fiction book about Buck on my TBR list


Pearl Buck in China: Journey to The Good Earth~~Hilary Spurling

Since it was her birthday the other day I was talking to my neighbor about her. She's a big fan of Bucks. She said quite awhile ago she saw a documentary on tv about Buck that was fascinating. I hope American Experience does one of her. She led such an interesting life.

I enjoyed your reviews a lot, Carol !

So happy to hear that St Louis Connie also loved Beautiful Ruins. I read it last year and absolutely loved it. I was amazed to read of others who dismissed it as "romance" or "light reading". It has remained with me all year also, which is a good guide to me of a very good book.

My June of 2013 doesn't show much quantity. I was reading Inferno for the majority of the month. I enjoyed it and I'm sensing a theme of Italy in the books that I'm enjoying. Part of my enjoyment of this book was the setting of the book which was almost enirely in Italy. The description of a very crowded Venice made me feel that the action taking place in Venice was taking place the very day that I was there. But all in all, I only give a 3 star rating to the book. The Da Vinci Code remains my favorite of Brown's work.

The only other book that I've finished was a tiny Harlequin re-read from what I refer to my Harlequin years! This book was published in the 1970s if that gives you an idea of how long ago this was. But once in a while I find the need to have a relaxing short story type of read and this one fit the bill. Took place in a circus and you don't see that often! Sawdust Season.

I'm 3/4 through a really good read that I'll have to rate in July. 2nd in a trilogy. Circles of Time

Thanks for sharing, Lori. I look forward to this thread all month. The more people that join in, the more successful the thread.

If you like books set in Italy we have a thread for books from a particular country that you may enjoy.

Folder: New Book Releases & Book Lists
Thread: Books set in a particular country

Here is a link
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/6...

Here are my June reads.

God's Own Country The rambling thoughts of a disturbed teenage boy, set in the Yorkshire moors, a location I happen to love. Not my normal genre, but enjoyed it all the same. 3 stars.

A Cook's Life Auto-bio. An interesting read, as it documents the changing food culture in Aust. from the 70s to present day, along with the acceptance of ethnic cuisine here. 4 stars.

A Land More Kind Than Home In a bleak Nth Carolina community a boy witnesses the abuse and death of his disabled brother. Dark but not gory. 4 stars.

Things Bogans Like: Tribal Tatts to Reality TV: How to Recognise the 21st Century Bogan non-fiction. A send-up of an Aust. stereotype. Too funny. 5 stars.

The Last Runaway In the 1850s a Quaker woman leaves England to start a new life in Ohio, and becomes involved in the Underground Railway network. Interesting insight. 4 stars.

The Comfort of Figs Set in late 30s Brisbane, a slow story revolving around the construction of the Story Bridge. Slow but interesting. 3 stars.

Lesley wrote: The Last Runaway In the 1850s a Quaker woman leaves England to start a new life in Ohio, and becomes involved in the Underground Railway network. Interesting insight. 4 stars.
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Very nice month, Lesley.

The Last Runaway sounds interesting. I've read and enjoyed the author's other book

Girl with a Pearl Earring

I have "The Last Runaway" on my TBR list, too. Glad to see that you enjoyed it, Lesley!

I always read some mysteries and thrillers this time of year, but I'm tiring of them. I haven't found a good new detective in a while. Any suggestions? Anyway, this is what I read in June.

The Black Country Second in a series about Scotland Yard Inspector Day and his sergeant. It was pretty good compared to the others I have read recently. 3.5 stars

Wicked Autumn British village mystery. I was not very impressed with this one. 3 stars, maybe even 2+

Red Sparrow A spy thriller that got good reviews. CIA agent and Russian spies collaborate. 3+ stars

Resolution The last in the trilogy by Denise Mina. Scots alcoholic abuse victim solves mysteries and finally cleans up. This series grew on me a bit. 3+ stars

The 5th Wave YA sic-fi about aliens hovering above the earth, sending waves of trouble to the inhabitants of same. I really liked it a lot till the end, which was unsatisfying. This is subtitled with the number 1, so I assume there will be sequels, which I will probably read at least one of.

What Is Left the Daughter This was a very strange book about Canadians during WWII. There is a marriage and a murder, and lots of info about German submarines operating in Canadian waters and even sinking civilian ships. That history was my favorite part. Otherwise, not a book with feeling.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette I loved the characters in this book. Bernadette is the Mom, an architect of great renown who lost her masterpiece to a disgruntled neighbor and had a fifteen-year nervous breakdown. Her daughter, Bee, (short for Balakrishna) was born with a heart defect requiring five years of operations. Husband Elgie works for Microsoft, where he is a god. He is working too much as his home disintegrates around his family. Very funny. 4 stars

Beautiful Ruins I finally got around to reading this book and I loved it. The plot was a bit farfetched, but it was fascinating nevertheless. Very good book. 4 stars

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena This is a book about the wars in Chechnya, and it is wonderful. It tells the story of a tiny village and its people - how the war impacted their lives over the course of ten years or so - and it has all the feelings that were absent from The Tiger's Wife, to which it has been compared. One of the best books I have read in a while. Heroic.

I enjoyed reading what you all have been doing this summer, too. Have a happy July 4th.

I have added A Constellation of Vital Phenomena to my TBR list. Thanks Michele, sounds really interesting.

Michele wrote: "I always read some mysteries and thrillers this time of year, but I'm tiring of them. I haven't found a good new detective in a while. Any suggestions? Anyway, this is what I read in June.
------------

Very nice month, Michele !

I used to read Jonathan Kellerman's Alex Delaware series.

I also liked Robert K. Tanenbaum's Butch Karp series.

Patrice wrote: "What amazes me is that there are so many books I have never heard of!!!!"

I agree, Patrice! It's great to read comments on books which intrigue, just to see if i should add them or not. A big THANK YOU to everyone who shares, even if we don't comment on each of your posts. It's an effort which is appreciated.

Amy wrote: "I had no idea the show was based on a book! My son and I watched the show, and we were disappointed when it was cancelled because it left us without any resolution. He'll be thrilled to know he can read the book and find out what was supposed to happen! Thanks, Deb! :)..."

This is about Flashforward. My pleasure, Amy. I didn't know it was based on a book when the show was aired but learned a year or so later & added it to my TBR. At last i got around to reading it. As i noted in my comments, it is different in several ways from the show but still a keeper.

Carol, not only have i not heard of his book but i've never heard of Loren Eiseley, either. Thanks for the heads up on him.

I know of him through the late Ray Bradbury (not personally, of course!)

Michele wrote: "I always read some mysteries and thrillers this time of year, but I'm tiring of them. I haven't found a good new detective in a while. Any suggestions? ..."

Michele, have you tried the series about Swedish detective Kurt Wallander by Henning Mankell? I got hooked on them after reading Stieg Larsson's "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" books. I mentioned to an English teacher friend of mine that I had enjoyed Larsson's books, and he recommended Mankell.

Alias Reader wrote: "Michele wrote: "I always read some mysteries and thrillers this time of year, but I'm tiring of them. I haven't found a good new detective in a while. Any suggestions? Anyway, this is what I read ..."

Thanks. I'm familiar with Alex Delaware, but not with Butch Karp. I'll give it a try.

Amy wrote: "Michele wrote: "I always read some mysteries and thrillers this time of year, but I'm tiring of them. I haven't found a good new detective in a while. Any suggestions? ..."

Michele, have you trie..."

Thanks, Amy. I love Henning Mankell and also the Swedish husband and wife who wrote Swedish mysteries in the '60's. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. I have read every one of them. That's exactly the type of series I'm looking for. I have just downloaded an Alan Furst and a Tana French, but they are not as much fun as Wallander and Martin Beck. I've also tried Louise Penny, who is better than average. I may read her new one, and I've got to finish Ian Rankin, too. Let me know if you come up with anything!!

Alias Reader wrote: "Carol wrote: Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin. I gave it 3 stars.
I read this with my mom's senior book group and no one liked it. I gave it 3 stars for the first half of the book which I r..."

I also read this book for a senior book club. I wasn't going to mention it, but what the heck. I liked it pretty well, including the somewhat occult/spiritual turn at the end. I've read a few other books by Japanese authors that take off in that direction - or that start and stay there - It doesn't bother me. I loved the way the extent of the mother's illness was unwrapped a piece at a time so it became clear that her family had ignored the situation - were they in denial or just uncaring? I missed the book club discussion so I'm not sure what the group thought, but I enjoy hearing what you both had to say.

Alias, I have a suggestion. Can we open a thread asking what your book club is reading? I belong to several and we have our lists for next fall through spring all ready to go. I live in the south, and lots of us go elsewhere for the summer months, so we get an early start on our reading for next cool season. The diehards who stay all summer are reading Beautiful Ruins this month.

Sure ! I'll open a thread.

Good idea. I don't belong to a book club but like reading what others are reading for groups. I look forward to it.

A couple of years ago i enjoyed a mystery set in Japan, The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino. It was interesting and bittersweet. He has a new one out, Salvation of a Saint, but i haven't read it yet.

The Wallander series on PBS seems dark but we like the character. Still, i haven't been drawn to the books. Maybe i should check one out. Or, better yet, stick DH onto it, so he can share, allowing me to read vicariously. ;-)

I enjoy the Wallander series, too, and I've read some of the stand-alone books by Mankell - I'm avoiding the book series of Wallander because I'm avoiding series in general. I have so many books on my TBR pile now that a new series would be too distracting!

Michele wrote: "Thanks, Amy. I love Henning Mankell and also the Swedish husband and wife who wrote Swedish mysteries in the '60's. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. I have read every one of them. That's exactly the type of series I'm looking for. ..."

Another one that was recommended to me is the Harry Hole detective series by Jo Nesbø. I haven't gotten to them yet, though, so I can't testify to whether the recommendation was a good one or not.

Too many options, eh?!

Alias Reader wrote: "Carol wrote:Fighting Angel: Portrait Of A Soul by Pearl S. Buck I gave it 4 1/2 stars!
What a life Pearl S. Buck had!! In my opinion, her indifferent father, Absalom Syndenstricker (1852-1931), mus..."

Super review. Thanks.

Madrano wrote: "Good idea. I don't belong to a book club but like reading what others are reading for groups. I look forward to it.

A couple of years ago i enjoyed a mystery set in Japan, The Devotion of Suspect ..."

The Devotion of Suspect X is one of my favorites. I love the complexity of the plot and the notion of two genii pitted against each other. I didn't think his second was quite as good.

I think Wallender in book form is much more endearing than the TV show, which I like for other reasons. I enjoyed looking for the recurring ideas, especially with his father and the paintings. The last Wallender is definitely a downer, though.

Amy wrote: "Michele wrote: "Thanks, Amy. I love Henning Mankell and also the Swedish husband and wife who wrote Swedish mysteries in the '60's. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. I have read every one of them. That's..."

I don't like Jo Nesbo as much. I like Karen Fossum and there is another Scandanavian guy who writes weird mysteries, but I forget his name!

Michele, i agree with all you wrote about Suspect X. It's not a book i could have imagined as far as the two "against" each other. And yet, in its fashion, it was deceptively simple.

Thanks for the fuller info on the Wallander series.

Currently read I highly recommend if you are looking for something different in thriller/suspense.
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