Wellington Reads discussion

Welcome to April!

At the moment I'm reading The Blue Room by Georges Simenon, following a conversation with a customer at the library. I'd never heard of the book but Simenon is one of my favourite authors, and the customer said he'd just seen a film based on the book. Of course I couldn't resist after that! The book is quite short and it is SO GOOD. It's a mystery but it's written in a really unusual way; I'm two thirds of the way through and I'm still not sure what the crime was, or if there was a crime at all!! Really intriguing. I think I'll finish it tonight!

I'm also partway through The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry but tbh I'm finding it really slow going. It is quaint and whimsical but there's nothing really inspiring me to keep turning the page!

How about you? What are you reading this month?

The Blue Room sounds really intriguing Stephanie...might have to check it out.

I totally understand about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry...I thought it lacked substance and was pretty average but being the ocd reader that I am I made it to the end.

I'm currently halfway through Fall of Giants...but it's so huge it won't fit into my bag...so I'm about to start reading High Society on my bus commutes. I'm just trying to read some books on my shelves at home and these two I've had for ages.

I also purchased The Chimes and Only the Animals from Unity bookstore last Friday and looking forward to reading them!

Erica wrote: "The Blue Room sounds really intriguing Stephanie...might have to check it out.

I totally understand about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry...I thought it lacked substance and was pretty aver..."

Oh I couldn't do it, Erica! I just wasn't enjoying Harold Fry so I canned it; there are so many books on my to-read list that I couldn't justify it. I've nabbed Roosevelt's Beast instead - have read some other fictional stories about exploring the Amazon and really enjoyed those, so hoping for a better outcome!

Hey Stephanie the Blue Room looks interesting. I love books with film adaptations so if you like it I'll add it to my list of reads this year.

I'm currently reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks - because I saw the film recently and I liked it.

I'm also reading Golden Son, book two of the red rising trilogy by Pierce Brown which is my Sci-fi / fantasy fix for the month.

Hey Erica,
I just finished Ben Elton"s Time and Time again which coincided with all the media attention about ANZAC day and the anniversary of the 100 year anniversary of WW1. purely coincidental. Elton is a versatile author as this book was an alternate history.

@Juston, that Elton book has gone on my to-read shelf.
@stephanie, haha good on you for having the strength and putting down Harold's story...you didn't miss anything I promise.
I finished Fall of Giants, it had way more of a focus on war than I was expecting but felt it was timely to read with the centenary of WWI taking place. I also finished High Society, was really enjoyable and interesting. I've started The Chimes...such a slow start, hoping it will pick up soon. I feel like the author perhaps hasn't thought through her fantasy world enough and so everything seems a bit vague.

Juston wrote: "Hey Stephanie the Blue Room looks interesting. I love books with film adaptations so if you like it I'll add it to my list of reads this year.

I'm currently reading Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks ..."

Hi Juston! I would definitely recommend The Blue Room; Georges Simenon is one of my favourite writers but for me this stands out against his other works as an especially good read. Also, it's a short book so there's not much time lost if it's not really your thing.

I've now got my eye out for the film; it screened in Wellington recently as part of the French Film Festival and I'm hoping the library will purchase a copy when it becomes available!

hi guys
I'm just joining in a bit late with my reading! I've just finished The Children Act by Ian McEwan. It was so good, in terms of the writing and tone. Right now I'm reading Kim Gordon's Girl in a Band. Because basically I love a rock biography and I'm a huge Kim Gordon/Sonic Youth fan. It's really enjoyable so far, I like her writing.
Also - The Chimesis so popular at the library, huge reserve list! (I've just bought more copies if anyone is waiting!)

The Rosie Project - Hilarious!!!

Juston wrote: "The Rosie Project - Hilarious!!!"

The Rosie Effect is also very good. Not quite as good (few sequels are), but worth the read!