Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
What Are You Reading Now (Anything Goes)
Sitting at the feet of RabbiSitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith
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Was reading The Road Through Wonderland: Surviving John Holmes, thought it was True Crime but it is more autobiography / memoir with a crime included. Not loving it so I started Dismembered.Still reading Milwaukee Mayhem: Murder and Mystery in the Cream City's First Century for LibaryThing early reviewers.
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I did not like The Road Through Wonderland either. It is more about her than anything.
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Feb 8 - currently readingTEXT –
Hail to the Chef / Julie HyzyAUDIO in the car -
All the Light We Cannot See / Anthony DoerrPortable AUDIO -
The Girl on the Train / Paula Hawkins
SPQRSPQR: A History of Ancient RomeThis purports to be the "best" history of Ancient Rome. Since I have read heavily in this area I love this book with its fresh insight in many areas. In my chronological history group I am reading Harry S. Truman: A Life.
Koren wrote: "♥Belleza★✰ wrote: "Was reading The Road Through Wonderland: Surviving John Holmes, thought it was True Crime but it is more autobiography / memoir with a crime included. Not loving i..."That was my complaint about Shattered Silence: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer's Daughter. It has nothing to do with the author's dad or his relationship with her.
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Arriving At Your Own Door by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Safe Harbor by Brian McDonald
For Cheddar or Worse by Avery Aames. The 7th and final book in the cozy mystery series, The Cheese Shop Mysteries.
Book Concierge wrote: "Feb 8 - currently readingTEXT –
Hail to the Chef / Julie HyzyAUDIO in the car - [bookcover:All the Light We Cannot See|181439..."
I love the White House Chef series! I just finished the last book in the series, Foreign Eclairs.
All the Light We Cannot See is up next in my TBR pile.
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Starting Fortunate Son by John Fogerty and The Beekeepers Lament by Hannah Nordhaus.
1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fiction mixed in to give it flavor which was not needed. On November 15, 1959 in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas two men, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith murdered four members of the Clutter family. That alone should have been enough to draw you in but Capote felt the need to give so much detail on the little things the horror gets lost in them. Second, as much research was done, six years worth, it still lacks in my option to be a well rounded story which could be a good thing, it is already long winded.
I know this a classic and loved by many and did start the True Crime genre but I just could not get into it.
SouthWestZippy wrote: "1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fiction mixed in to give it flavor which was not needed. On Novembe..."
Nice to hear someone bucking the trend! I love Capote's book, but I feel the same way about The Executioner's Song as you do about this one.
Fishface wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fiction mixed in to give it flavor which was..."
I have not nor do I have plans on reading The Executioner's Song.
I can see that grin you have. LOL
SouthWestZippy wrote: "Fishface wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fiction mixed in to give it..."
Even Truman Capote didn't like it!
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1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fiction mixed in to give it..."
I loved In Cold Blood when I read it probably 40 years ago. Is the book really that old? I will have to look up when it was written. At that time I did not know it was a 'true crime novel'. I probably wouldnt like it as well now as I did all that many years ago. I dont care to re-read it. I want the memory to be good.
Koren wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "Fishface wrote: "SouthWestZippy wrote: "1 star
I did not like the book for many reasons. First off, It is a nonfiction story with a little fict..."
If I'm not mistaken, it came out in the mid-Sixties.
Greatly enjoying The Love-Murders of Harry F. Powers. This story -- aside from being the bio of a nasty criminal of the worst sort -- is the very first "instant hardcover" I've ever been aware of. The killer was probably still swinging on the gallows when this was released.
Just finished All the Light You Cannot See and, in the 'anything goes' category I'm reading The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig.
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The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie
Candy Freak by Steve Almond
3 stars
Set in the 70's a interracial family tries to deal with themselves and living in a small Ohio town.
Marilyn and James Lee have three children, Lydia, Nath and Hannah. Lydia not only the oldest but clearly the favorite so when Lydia drowns, devastation and despair become the norm.
The story took me on a wild ride roller coaster of emotions. I hated the parents yet I have a understanding of the parents. I felt so sorry for the two kids, they were left alone to deal with their own emotions on the death of their Sister. I would have given it five stars because it drew me in, had me feeling, thinking and have me on the edge of my seat on what was going to happen next but the end of the book was such a let down that three stars will all it gets. I wanted a little more, a better explication on what happen. After that big of a ride, I think I deserved it.
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Dancing the Cows Home: A Wisconsin Girlhood
Love this memoir of a girl growing up on a Wisconsin farm. It brought back so many memories of my own childhood. Kind of like a Little House On The Prairie only in the 1950's.
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4 stars
This was an interesting story about a girl that murdered another girl in a yoga store. Good job of exploring the background of the victim, murderer and their families. The trial was mostly repetitive of what we had already been told but otherwise an interesting book.
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4 stars
Some you may agree with and some you may not. Some may leave you scratching your head. There are people, places and things listed and sometimes just ideas and character traits. There is a lot of trivial information here. All entries are only a paragraph or two so it is a quick read.
SouthWestZippy wrote: "3 stars
Set in the 70's a interracial family tries to deal with themselves and living in a small Ohio town.
Marilyn and James Lee have three childr..."
Nothing worse than getting really involved in a book and then feeling like the author hurried the ending to meet a deadline.
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5 stars
Loved this book. It reminded me so much of my own childhood. We lived on a dairy farm until I was 12. This is kind of like Little House On The Prairie set in the 1950's. Life was simpler. There were tough times. Father's were stricter. Moral standards were higher. Did not want this book to end. Will definitely see if there are other books by this author.
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4 stars
This is about a serial killer, Derrick Todd Lee, who killed quite a few women in Louisiana. I like how this book is laid out, with individual chapters for each victim. Very well written and organized. There is some interesting trivia here. I did skim the trial a bit but otherwise an interesting true story.
I just finished reading a fictional mystery about a book club who read only unsolved true crime books and then tried to use their own research to solve them. Pretty soon the club members start turning up dead and the deaths mirror some of the murders they've studied. It creeped me out a little bit. I'm not big into true crime but, for those of you who are, does it ever get depressing? I figure the evening news is depressing enough for me.
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I am a True Crime nut and the only time it gets depressing is when it pertains to children or animals. it is endlessly fascinating to me to look into the minds of the killers and see what makes them tick. I love a book that makes me feel some kind of emotion, good or bad, rather than just mindlessly reading for entertainment, so-called 'beach reads'.
The Good Thief’s Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan – 3***This is the first in a mystery series featuring Charlie Howard, successful author and part-time professional burglar. I thought it was highly entertaining, with a fast pace, interesting characters, and a great setting. I was charmed by Charlie and I’ll definitely read more of this series.
Full Review HERE
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng – 4**** “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Ng explores the nuances of family dynamics – how a parent’s own disappointments may translate into dreams for a child’s future, how a child may feel burdened by those dreams, how siblings may compete for or retreat from parental attention. Cassandra Campbell does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has good pacing, and I felt connected to the characters by her performance.
Full Review HERE
Robin wrote: Nothing worse than getting really involved in a book and then feeling like the author hurried the ending to meet a deadline. I agree 100%. Well said.
2 stars
On March 15th, 1987 in Anchorage, Alaska a violent, hideous act was commented by a 23-year-old sociopath. His victims were his own Aunt and two very young nieces.
This is a trial book. It does not go word for word of the trial but very close. Very little background of the victims, the victims Husband/Father or of the sicko who commented the crime. What background was given, painted a picture of a family trying help and deal with a troubled sociopath. Little did they know taking him in would end the lives of three people.
This is not for everyone, it is very graphic at times with details of the crime scenes.
Monday, Monday by Elizabeth Crook – 4**** In August 1966 Charles Whitman shot and killed or wounded dozens of students, faculty and first responders from the clock tower on the University of Texas campus in Austin. This novel explores the effects of that event on the lives of three fictitious characters. What a wonderfully complex character-driven story. As the story follows them through the decades we come to know their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and fears.
Full Review HERE
Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman – 4**** It's book number two in Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn series ... need I say more? This is a good mystery with a little Native American cultural information in the mix. I love the way Leaphorn thinks things through before acting. George Guidall does a good job on the audio. He has good pacing and I really like the way he voices Leaphorn.
Full Review HERE
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Good Harbor by Anita DiamontA rare jaunt into fiction for me. This is mostly about 2 women who became friends and walked on the beach every day. They both have issues. I would give it 3 stars.
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The Country Under My Skin by Giaconda Belli – 3*** Subtitled: A Memoir of Love and War, this is Belli’s account of her decades as a high-level member of the Sandinistas fighting for reform in Nicaragua, and of the passionate love affairs she had during this time. Belli is a good writer and her story-telling is top notch. I was fascinated and I learned something about the revolution in Nicaragua. But … In the end I couldn’t reconcile my admiration for her as a writer with my dislike of her as a person. So I’m conflicted, and am taking the middle road with 3 stars.
Full Review HERE
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter – 4**** What a delightful story! Moving back and forth in time, and with multiple styles and points of view, Walter has crafted a love story with wide appeal. I was engaged and entertained from page one, and was so sorry to see it end. Edoardo Ballerini was simply marvelous performing the audio version. I loved the way he voiced Pasquale, Dee, Michael Deane and the many supporting cast members.
Full Review HERE
Atticus by Ron Hansen – 4**** While there is certainly a mystery at its core, the novel is more about the father-son relationship, and the failure of both of them to openly communicate and understand one another. In many ways this story echoes the parable of the Prodigal Son from the bible. The plot has several twists and turns that kept me intrigued and turning pages, but the star of the novel, to me, was the writing and the exploration of these characters and their motivations.
Full Review HERE
Journey to the Center of the EarthI am currently reading A Journey to the Center of the Earth. I found a copy of it that was a Reader's Digest edition in the back of a dusty thrift shop, and boy is it a treasure. It took several chapters to become invested in the plot, but Verne's descriptive writing enraptures me in these underground environments and horrors he describes.
Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
Books mentioned in this topic
Walking Sideways: The Remarkable World of Crabs (other topics)The House on Foster Hill (other topics)
Farmer Boy (other topics)
The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer (other topics)
Walking Sideways: The Remarkable World of Crabs (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jaime Jo Wright (other topics)M.R. Carey (other topics)
M.R. Carey (other topics)
Paul Beatty (other topics)
Anne Chambers (other topics)
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