Book Nook Cafe discussion

Time to start a new folder for our monthly reads! We appreciate so much all the folks who take time to share what they are reading! That way, our TO BE READ lists will NEVER END!

Happy Reading!
Donna in Southern Maryland

Long time no see, Donna. :) I hope you share your reads with us, too.

An interesting mix:

Emma

A wonderful classic of well developed characters. It holds true to the standard Austen tales of relationships, making the reader wonder who will end up with whom....with its twists and turns along the way.

The Winter Rose

A page turner, well written story that draws the reader into the plot with very good character development. Second in a trilogy that began with The Tea Rose...both set in England...great historical fiction combined with mystery and suspense.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

A good introduction to the French Revolution. I particularly liked the way Moran wove the art of making wax figures throughout the story; the role the Salon de Cire played in displaying current events--the relationship between the monarchy and the commoners, the royalists and the revolutionists. "The Salon de Cire exists to report events as they are happening."

I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the story but thought the writing did not have an inviting flow to it..often in a "relating" tone instead of a tone that would draw you into the characters.

This month I've read:

Wolf Hall (good)

South of Broad (very good)

MªLurdes wrote: "This month I've read:

Wolf Hall (good)

South of Broad (very good)"

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Welcome to Book Nook Cafe MLurdes ! Thanks for sharing your reads with us. South of Broad is a book that a lot of people here enjoyed.

MªLurdes wrote: "This month I've read:

Wolf Hall (good)

South of Broad (very good)"

I just bought Wolf Hall, glad that you thought it was good.

This month I've read a strange grouping of books:

Kindred
Fever Pitch
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
and I'm about halfway through The Vikings: A History which has been pretty interesting so far

Jaleh, what did you think of Kindred? It doesn't seem like my type of book. However, my library book group selected it for our April read. I'm on the fence about reading it.

What did you think of Kindred Jaleh?

There's an echo in here. :-)

When listing your books it's helpful to rate them and maybe say a line or two about it.

Thanks Jaleh. I have it on my to-read list and I am always interested to hear what other people have to say about those books. Your description makes me want to read it more.

Trinity - I read this every few years. I love this book!

Middle Age - my second reading of this book, and I think I enjoyed it more than I did the first time around. Joyce Carol Oates is a master wordsmith!

The Scent of Rain and Lightening - ok, not great.

The Great Santini - Pat Conroy is another of my favorite writers. I can't get enough of his writing!

Shanghai Girls - currently reading. Very sad.

Linda wrote:Shanghai Girls - currently reading. Very sad.
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Linda, when you are done you might want to read what our group thought of it. It was our group read in December.

To find the thread, click on the Folder Monthly Book Selection title and you will see all the threads.

Jaleh wrote: I actually really enjoyed Kindred. I had to read it for an English class, and I wasn't that thrilled to be reading it, but I was pleasantly suprised by it. It's a very interesting take on slavery and I think it had a lot of depth to it. It definitely gives readers a lot to think about/discuss, especially because the characters aren't just good/bad. It would be a great book club book. It's also a quick read in my opinion.
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Thanks, Jaleh. Maybe I'll give it a shot. I Normally do not like supernatural stories.

Linda wrote: "Trinity - I read this every few years. I love this book!

.."

I first read this in 1976 just after my son was born. I re-read it four years ago before we went to Ireland. It made all the history come more alive while we were there.

I wanted to echo Jaleh's comments on Kindred by Octavia Butler. I liked it and found it thoughtful. In many ways it was difficult calling it science fiction but in other ways it got me thinking about the way the character experienced her time travel. I think you'd find it fast & easy to read yet still with something to discuss in a group, again, the slavery issue but also the results of her time trips.

deborah

I read the following books this month. Frankly, i'm amazed, given the slow year i've had. Of course it helps that i'm counting the children's books i read "with" my nephew. "With" as in we later discussed them, which he'd read earlier in the year.

~Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

This small book is about the brother of triplet girls, who has learned to be fast & observant. His quickness inspired a friend to call him "Mudshark", which stuck. Cute book. My favorite story is about the librarian's choice to have an armadillo as a pet in the library. When it didn't move for days on end it was learned it was, in fact, a purse. LOL! Ants had been carrying away the food left for the critter.

~The Uglified Ducky by Willy Claflin. A Maynard Moose Tale is the subtitle on this. I'm not sure if the author has used the character previously or not. Frankly, i feel it's been better written by others.

~Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott Abbott The subtitle for this one is A Romance of Many Dimensions.

The purported author, A. Square, lives in a land of two dimensions, never imagining there were more than that one. He is a square but there are other figures, such as lines (all women), hexagons, and triangles. After depicting life there he has encounters with other dimensions & we learn to think about those, as well. Curious little work, particularly given the fact it was written over 100 years ago.


~Three mysteries, Susan Wittig Albert's first trilogy, followed. Bleeding Hearts, Spanish Dagger and Nightshade. These cover other mysteries for each book with her father's death as the connecting thread for the 3. I've followed this series a long time but realized after the second that i'm tired of it. The author's writing has become stale, even though the mystery aspects are sometimes unexpected.

~The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington by Jennet Conant.

This is mostly about Dahl before his children's books author career. Set mostly during WWII, it explores his "spying" in D.C. when he worked for the British embassy. He was successful in that he even made his way into the Roosevelt White House & their Hyde Park homes. His very close friendship with Texas newspaper owner Charles Marsh is also chronicled. Marsh was one power behind LBJ & close buddies with then VP Wallace.

Finally, i read our April book because i'm going to be gone for the beginning of the month & didn't want to be "behind." ~Lying Awake byMark Salzman. Could be good one for discussion.

deborah

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Linda wrote: "Trinity - I read this every few years. I love this book!

.."

I first read this in 1976 just after my son was born. I re-read it four years ago before we went to Ireland. It made al..."

When I was a kid, there was bombing on the news every night out of Ireland. I never quite understood it. This book helped tremendously, although even after reading it, it's still a bit confusing. Better understood, but still a bit confusing. What a tangled and sad history.

Alias Reader wrote: "Linda wrote:Shanghai Girls - currently reading. Very sad.
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Linda, when you are done you might want to read what our group thought of it. It was our group read in December.

To find t..."

Thanks! I'll check it out!

I just finished Pray for Silence

4* mystery - My review can be read here: http://wp.me/pTRJE-48

Welcome to Book Nook Cafe, Jason.:)

I'm glad you decided to join in the fun ! The more the merrier. :)

I read The Murder Stone by Louise Penny, The Slap The Winter Sea - I think that was it for March.

I've had a lot of time to read this month, and so a long list. Favorites were Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, a charming love story set in a British village, with lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, absurdly funny situations, but also lots of great dialogue and a more serious story concerning an old-fashioned Muslim family and British-Pakistani relations, bigotry, etc. All the usual village characters are present, and one might be in a Britcom or a Miss Marple tale, but it was lovely.

I also loved Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand. Her main character, Louie Zamperini, was a hyperactive, not very well-behaved kid saved from jail by running, which he learned from his older brother, Pete. Louie always seemed marked for extraordinary experiences. He went to the Olympics in Berlin, became a crew member in the Pacific Theater during the war, survived in a raft for a record number of days, drifted to a Japanese-held island and was held prisoner for years, subject for a large part of that time to the unwelcome attentions of a psychopathic guard. LIberated, Louie went through a rough period of time, and I will not tell you how he survived his own survival, but he lived a large life till the end.

I read two more books about the financial situation; No One Would Listen by whistleblower Harry Markopolous, which is about Bernie Madoff, and The Weekend that Changed the World by gorgeous CNBC anchor Maria Bartilomo. Both were first hand accounts, and therefore more colorful though less detailed than more scholarly books on this subject. Worth reading.

Where Men Win Glory was the story of Pat Tillman's death. Lots of interesting detail about Tillman, his second thoughts and disillusionment, and the !@#%&!! who run the military. Did you know that Pat Tillman was peripherally involved in the "rescue" of Jessica Lynch? Great to show how little you can trust the news media, too.

I read The Nearest Exit, a mystery by Olen Steinhauer, who is supposed to be the next best Swedish mystery writer. I didn't really like this one very much. It was too complex and had no soul. I may give him one more try, though. He might get better.

Wench (don't remember the author) was a bodice-ripper about slavery that was a total waste of time. Horrid. No imagination at all, and no thoughts deeper than an inch.

Currently awash in The Second Son by Jonathan Rabb. As much as I loved the dialogue in Major Pettigrew, that's how much I hate the dialogue in Second Son. It's impenetrable. Everyone - every character - makes cryptic statements that mean nothing to me. ONe inscrutable character, OK. All the characters inscrutable, annoying and not worth the effort. I actually have a friend like this. He makes statements that he feels are profound and important, but they are not understandable by anybody else at all. I don't think I'll read another by this author. That's about it for this month.

Christy wrote: "I read The Murder Stone by Louise Penny, The Slap The Winter Sea - I think that was it for March."

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Hello, Christy. Thanks for sharing your March read with us. I have to get my list together. I am hoping to finish one more this month.

Christy -- good comments on what you read. Thanks

Michele wrote: "I've had a lot of time to read this month, and so a long list. Favorites were Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, a charming love story set in a British village, with lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, absur..."

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Nice reading month, Michele. I enjoyed reading your review.

I read Major Pettigrew and enjoyed it, too. I loved reading it at night with my nice cup of tea. :)

As to Unbroken, I haven't heard a single bad word about it.

Funny you should mention the Tillman book. I had it in my hand at the library the other day. I've enjoyed all of the authors other books. However, I decided against getting it, as I already have a full plate this month. Though I am glad to hear you liked it.

ha ha - ok JoAnn/QuAppelle i totally deserved that :) I am a little slow in getting all of my reviews caught up but they are all there. Now I just have to figure out how to link my reviews to my comments here I guess!
Overview
The Slap - I didnt like it, it just wasnt my type of book. It seemed like the author was trying too hard.
The Winter Sea - very predictable ending but a fun quick read
The Murder Stone - Loved it, a great mystery by a wonderful Canadian author
And I just finished
A Pale View of Hills
I love his books - very different but very enjoyable. You always know a twist is coming so you just wait for it. This one was no exception. It really made me feel for the daughters and at the same time want to help the mother. Great book.

Christy wrote: "ha ha - ok JoAnn/QuAppelle i totally deserved that :) I am a little slow in getting all of my reviews caught up but they are all there. ..."

Christy....I sincerely enjoyed reading your comments and wanted to let you know....I did not mean to imply anything else!

Michele, I loved Major Pettigrew and unbroken was wonderful. Thanks for the great reviews. I do want to read the Pat Tillman book as well.

I had an excellent month of reading. The books I liked the most was:

Jane Eyre 5 stars
I have aways loved this story. Although my third time (or was it my fourth?) through this book, it never looses its allure. Jane will always be the ultimate heroine, a very perfect lady, with an eye always open to what was proper, good, and worthwhile. Her being a bit of a rebel in her times made her even more alluring. She was someone to be admired, trusted, and a true compassionate human being.

Animal Dreams 5 stars
There are some books that absolutely touch your inner being from page one till its very end, and this was one of them. I absolutely loved this book. The way in which Ms. Kingsolver presents her characters and writes is certainly one that shows an easy going momentum of life's options and changes. Our main character, Calli is a woman lost. Coming from a life where she can't seem to find roots, we meet her beloved sister, Hallie, and her cold, unemotional father, Doc Homer. The book is sad and poignant and one that captures a spirit that comes from the midwest Indians and the people of the small town of Grace. Calli needs anchors and doesn't know where to find them. Returning to the town of her youth, one that contains memories that she oftentimes can't remember, she encounters a former boyfriend and they reunite for what is to Calli a convenient liaison. Calli is so afraid of caring that she can't tell what is important, that of the love and care of a man and a town that wants her back. She tries to push away all of those who want to hold her close fearing the point where emotion might kick in and leave her defenseless.

Wives and Daughters 5 stars
This was another wonderful book by Elizabeth Gaskell. Having read her previously, I have to wonder why she is not more "well known" in the annals of Victorian literature that was dominated by Dickens and others.

The ones I liked least were:
Solar 2 stars
This is a tragic/comic novel. For all the seriousness of the subject matter, global warming (a subject Mr McEwan is quite passionate about), there was too many comic elements. True one can't always be super morbid about the fate of our planet, but the things that our nobel laureate character, Michael Beard, is and does might turn one off to the topic.

The Athena Project 1 star
Don't ask? I needed something for my MP3 player and I chose this one. This book was like the Charlie's Angels of the Delta Force. Of course they had lots more sex than Charlie's girls ever did all in the name of country. Why is it that whenever we need someone to save the world, they are thin, good looking, brilliant people? Why can't a spy be a bit homely, over weight, and maybe not so bright?

The others that I read were: The Cellist of Sarajevo 4 stars, The Portrait of a Lady 3 stars, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy 4 stars, The Feast of the Goat 4 stars, The Lonely Polygamist 3 stars, Life 3 stars, Christian Lacroix's Sleeping Beauty: A Fashion Fairytale 2 stars, The Space Between Us 3 stars, What's Eating Gilbert Grape 2 stars, Remarkable Creatures 3 stars, Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal 4 stars, To a Mountain in Tibet 2 stars, The Red Queen 3 stars, and Lying Awake 4 stars,

For my reviews you can go here if you would like to. http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/.... I also listened toNight. This one is beyond a rating.

February-March Reads

The Fates Will Find Their Way - Hannah Pittard. A teenage girl goes missing on Halloween night and no one ever finds out what happened to her. But the boys who knew Nora speculate endlessly throughout their teen and adult years, unable to let go of the mystery. And that not knowing affects them as adults as much as it did as teenagers and allows the reader to learn about the boys they were and the men they have become. A-

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky - Heidi Durrow. A young girl survives a terrible family tragedy and moves to Portland to live with relatives. But in Portland, her identity as a biracial child becomes a problem for her. The set-up of this book was terrific, but there never was the kind of payoff at the end that I was hoping for. I wanted to like it more than I did. But I didn't. C

Anne Frank: The book, the life, the afterlife - Francine Prose. Prose writes not only about Anne Frank's diary, but what happened to the book in the years after it was found and published as various writers and producers tried to make it into a play and a movie. Prose considers Anne to be more than just a teenage diarist, but also an accomplished writer whose growth can be seen as she edited the diary through her teen years. One of the most provocative subjects I found in the book was a discussion about whether the stage play and movie should focus on its universality, or whether the story which was written by a Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis, should focus on that exact situation, and not on the universality of the story. A very thought-provoking book.. A

Faith - Jennifer Haigh. I loved this book! Set in Boston in 2002, when new revelations about pedophile priests were coming out all the time, this is the story of one of the accused priests and his family. The narrator is Father Breen's half-sister Sheila who knows him as well as anyone does, but sometimes wonders if she knows him at all. This book is about religious faith, of course, but also about the faith that family members have for one another. It was well written, full of memorable characters and quotes and a really good heart. And honestly I could not put this book down. A+

The End of the World As We Know It: Scenes from a Life - Robert Goolrick. Goolrick also wrote "Reliable Wife" and much like that novel, this memoir is full of fine writing but tells a story I didn't quite enjoy. He grew up in the 1950's in a family that seemed glamorous - beautiful, educated parents with whirlwind social lives that centered around drinking to excess. But appearances mattered more to the family than reality did, and there were deep, dark, damaging secrets that caused Robert endless troubles in his adult life. Although I laughed out loud in places, other parts of the book broke my heart. But I couldn't stop reading it. A

During the past two months I have also read 600+ pages of Edward Rutherfurd's New York, and I still have more than 200 pages to go. I am determined to finish this big fat historical novel, even if it kills me. And it might.



The Fates Will Find Their Way: A Novel

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife

Faith: A Novel

The End of the World as We Know It

Here is my list for March --

Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese I really enjoyed this book. Long but worth it. The writing and the characters will stay with me for a long time. I particularly liked that they way it started out, you never would have predicted the overall story.

NewsLady Carole Simpson A fairly light memoir by Carole Simpson. I enjoyed her on the air in NY and I was tempted by a sale on my Book Nook. Oh just what I need more book temptations. But I really liked a look behind the scenes of her growing up years and what working in the media was really like for a black woman in that time period.

Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt H.W. Brands I have been reading this book in bits and pieces for what seems like forever. So as a testament to my DL I was in fact determined to finish this in March if it killed me. And so I did. This is a terrific book. A lot to learn even if you think you know everything about FDR, Eleanor, or WWII. It was worth the effort.

Marialyce wrote: "I had an excellent month of reading. The books I liked the most was:

Jane Eyre 5 stars
I have aways loved this story. Although my third time (or was it my fourth?) through this boo..."
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Holy Bateman, Marialyce ! You should had an excellent reading month.

Connie wrote: "February-March Reads

Faith - Jennifer Haigh. I loved this book! Set in Boston in 2002, when new revelations about pedophile priests were coming out all the time, this is the story of one of the accused priests and his family. The narrator is Father Breen's half-sister Sheila who knows him as well as anyone does, but sometimes wonders if she knows him at all. This book is about religious faith, of course, but also about the faith that family members have for one another. It was well written, full of memorable characters and quotes and a really good heart. And honestly I could not put this book down. A+"
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I enjoyed reading your review of this book and I've put it on my TBR list. Thanks, Connie !

Bobbie57 wrote: "Here is my list for March --

Cutting for Stone Abraham Verghese I really enjoyed this book. Long but worth it. The writing and the characters will stay with me for..."
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Barbara, you read two big honking books this month. Though when they are good, as Cutting, and Traitor seem to be, it's not a chore at all.

I'm glad we didn't lose you or Connie this month. :)

March was an unusual month for me. I don't usually read this many books.


1-Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery~Eric Metaxas
Rate 1+ /5
non fiction
I was very disappointed in this book as I really loved the movie.

2-What's Eating Gilbert Grape~Peter Hedges
Rate 4- /5
fiction
I read this for our Group Read. I enjoyed the book and the movie. It seemed very original to me. It certainly wasn't like other books I've read.

3- Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother~Amy Chua
rate 4/5
non fiction
I enjoyed this well written memoir. I was hoping she would also talk about the children's academic schoolwork and not just their music. Still a very original memoir.

4- Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl~~Susan Campbell
rate 3/5
I saw this book on the shelf of the library while browsing the biography/memoir section. The title caught my eye. Since I know little of the world of fundamentalism I found the book informative.

5- Half Broke Horses~~Jeannette Walls
fiction based on true events
Rate: 3/5
I read this book for my library book group. I thought it was a pleasant read but nothing more. I thought some of the stores read like Tall Tales of the west and took them with a grain of salt. Surprisingly, the book gave us one of our better discussions.

6- Rabbit Hole~David Lindsay-Abaire
fiction
rate 3/5
I read this for our Play Group Read. It was interesting. Though the details are already fading for me. I do want to catch the DVD at some point.
I think I would enjoy seeing this performed as a play more than reading it.

7- The Chosen~Chaim Potok
Fiction
Rate 4/5
I enjoyed the book very much. The subject matter gives one a lot to think about. I also learned about Hasdic culture which I don't know a lot about.
I also rented the movie which was good. Though I think casting Bobbie Benson was the wrong choice.

8- Sterling Point Books: Amelia Earhart: Flying Solo~John Burke
non fiction
rate- 3/5
3/5
non fiction
Young adult book. This bio is much better then the movie Amelia.

9-The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore.~Tennessee Williams
Fiction
Rate: 3/5
I read this play because I am going to see the play. It's an interesting yet sad story. I hadn't heard of this TW play before.

10- Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy~Donald B. Kraybill
non fiction
rate 4/5
I liked this book a great deal. I happened to be browsing the book shelves at the library and picked it up. I'm glad I did. The book is a great jumping off point for contemplating forgiveness.

11-Lying Awake~Mark Salzman
fiction
Rate 3/5
I read this for our April Group read. It's sort of a quiet read. I'm interested to read what you all thought of it.

See my March reads and comments here:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

I had three 5-star books in March, two of which were non-fiction.

I so liked Little Princes too, JoAnn.

I read in March 2 books: 1. "Pirate Latitudes" by Michael Crichton in slovakian, is a classic story about Pirates, treasure and betrayal, and for me it was nice reading.
2."Love in Another Town" by Barbara Taylor Bradford. This book I read again and is nice story about two people who just met, and both had previously relationships someone else.

March was a better reading month for me.

The Help Excellent, and great book group discussion.

The Foreign Correspondent I enjoy this author's style very much; the second I've read by him.

Starburst: A Novel A nice, "comfort food" book

Blackwater Sound Another series that I like, set in Florida.

Room Thought this was very well done.

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag I love the Flavia de Luce character.

Carolyn, in Starburst, does the author describe the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. which is part of the Edinburgh Festival?

We saw the Tattoo when we were in Edinburgh in the early 90s. It was an incredible experience that our kids still talk about, 20 years later. You can see it online if you google it.

I did not have a great reading month in March. Work and a cold seemed to tire me out in the last half of the month. I was reading on average four pages a night. I did finish Still Life by Louise Penny

rating 4/5

I am almost three quarters finished with Fatal Remedies by Donna Leon. This one of the books on my determination list.

Meredith

Maria wrote: "I read in March 2 books: 1. "Pirate Latitudes" by Michael Crichton in slovakian, is a classic story about Pirates, treasure and betrayal, and for me it was nice reading..."
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I've read a lot of Crichton's books. I was sadden to hear that he had died.

Meredith wrote: "I did not have a great reading month in March. Work and a cold seemed to tire me out in the last half of the month. I was reading on average four pages a night. I did finish [book:Still Life|338..."
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Some months seem to go like that. Especially when you have a cold. I am a big baby when I have a cold. I can't do a thing. I hope you are feeling better.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Carolyn, in Starburst, does the author describe the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. which is part of the Edinburgh Festival?

We saw the Tattoo when we were in Edinburgh in the early 90s. It was an incr..."

No, JoAnn, I don't recall any mention of the Military Tattoo in the book. I googled it, sounds fascinating. What a nice memory for your family.

Just finished Still Waters: A Mystery Review can be found here: http://wp.me/pTRJE-4q

Connie wrote: "Anne Frank: The book, the life, the afterlife - Francine Prose. Prose writes not only about Anne Frank's diary, but what happened to the book in the years after it was found and published as various writers and producers tried to make it into a play and a movie. Prose considers Anne to be more than just a teenage diarist, but also an accomplished writer whose growth can be seen as she edited the diary through her teen years. One of the most provocative subjects I found in the book was a discussion about whether the stage play and movie should focus on its universality, or whether the story which was written by a Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis, should focus on that exact situation, and not on the universality of the story. A very thought-provoking book.. A..."

Interesting comments. I doubt i'd read the book but i like what you shared, Connie. The copy of Diary that i read included short stories Anne wrote, also while in the attic. I agree with her ability as an author, adding to the loss.

Thanks for sharing. As always i enjoy reading comments people share here about the books they've read.

deborah

Hi everyone!

Just finished Drinking Closer to Home

A solid 4* read! Reviewed here: http://wp.me/pTRJE-4z

Thanks for sharing with us, Brenda. You had a nice reading month. :)

Brenda, I am a long-time Hoffman fan. Have you read other books by her?

And are you from Lansdowne, PA?