Anything Goes discussion

what book have you read recently and thought wow and it was a good book?

The Liar ~ Stephen Fry

the blade itself by Joe Abercrombie was utterly brilliant, i would suggest to people who like historical who dunnit type books. :)

I read The End of the Affair by Graham Greene yesterday, and it is fantastic, emotional, powerful and definitely a new favourite.

I just finished Lost by Michatel Robotham. I thought this book start well but it drag a little in middle and in the end the author brought all together. It kept my interest enough to read the next book in the series.

Eric, how did you find the change in the narrator? I was put off by it a bit, I really didn't like Ruiz. I put the book to one side in the end, but I will go back to it since I want to read it before getting stuck into Shatter.

Chris wrote: "Eric, how did you find the change in the narrator? I was put off by it a bit, I really didn't like Ruiz. I put the book to one side in the end, but I will go back to it since I want to read it befo..."

I agree 100%. I liked it better with the professor narrating the story. After the first couple chapters I tried to focus on the plot and that is what kept my attention. You are absolutely right, I don't care for DI Ruiz. Do you think Joe is going main narrator in
Shatter?

Hi Eric
I think Shatter returns to Joe as the narrator but I'm not 100% sure. I'll check it out before I buy a copy though.

Just finished Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks - loved it!

Angela
This title has my curiosity peak. What is the plot line like? And is it a quick read? Certainly looks good.

I have had a "finishing" off day today, and managed to clear three (very good) books off my bedroom floor and off to the local charity shop.
The prophecy
The Winter King
Empire of the Sun
I'll write reviews soon, eyes too sore right now. Three more books to finish, since hubbie is fed up with tripping over the great tomes of Pillars of the Earth, Vanity Fair and Wizards First Rule (plus I have a kindle version of Blood like Poison).

Eric wrote: "Angela
This title has my curiosity peak. What is the plot line like? And is it a quick read? Certainly looks good."

Hi Eric.
I loved this book, although the chopping and changing of narrator could be a little confusing. Basically, the plot line is straight forward - attempts to prove that a psycic (that doesn't look like the right spelling to me!) is a cheat, while he's trying his hardest to be proved genuine. It's an intrigueing story, with lots of twists and turns; I haven't read anything this year that I've been so eager to pick up again. Quite a long book, but it pulled me in.

I just finished Roseanna. This was written in 1965, by a Swedish author. It is a murder mystery that takes place in Sweden. The plot was there and it kept my attention enough to finish it. It was not WOW book, but it was good read. So overall I like it but I don't think I'll continue the series.

I just finish Water for Elephants. I like story overall. I used to lived in Bararboo,WI where the Ringling circus train museum is located. Now I'll have to find out how real circus train compares to the book. Also they are showing the movie " Water for Elephants" in town. I think I'm going to have to go see it and compare the book to the movie.

I just finished Live Wire. This is a Myron Bolitar novel, I think it is #10 in the series. He is faced with his past clients and their past lives. This novel was easy to pick up without following the whole series. Fast paced with a lot of twists and turns.

I've just finished The Lovers. I really enjoyed it. It delved into Chrlie Parker's history. This series is getting stranger and stranger (but in a good way).

JackieB wrote: "I've just finished The Lovers. I really enjoyed it. It delved into Chrlie Parker's history. This series is getting stranger and stranger (but in a good way)."

JakieB,

I agree with you that series was turning into something totally different from where it started out. The last one I read was the The Black Angel. After that one I needed to put down the series for awhile.

I haven't been finishing many books lately, but I've started Nights at the Circus, and so far I really like it.

Yesterday I had to travel and I listened to Once a Spy. It was well written spy vs. Spy novel. I thought it was a great way to spend four hours in a car.

I finished Norwegian Wood earlier this week and loved it.
I think the fact that I was a student at the same time as the main characters - the same age too - meant that it had a great impact on me. All the intense relationships and emotions of late teenage years were so well portrayed I think. I was also a fanatical Beatles fan in the 1960s, so the title resonated with me!

Eric wrote: "I agree with you that series was turning into something totally different from where it started out. The last one I read was the The Black Angel. After that one I needed to put down the series for awhile."

I know what you mean. I love how John Connolly writes, but he seems to be taking this series in a REALLY weird direction. It might be a whole lot more weirdness than I want to deal with, even between the pages of a book.

I've almost finished Divergent and it has been really good. Its one I will be re-reading soon.

Flora wrote: "I've almost finished Divergent and it has been really good. Its one I will be re-reading soon."

Looks good, I've added it to my TBR

Just finished Hold Tight. I like it, but I don't think it is at the top of the list for my favorite books by him.

the spy by clive cussler is a brilliant read. :)

the dogs of riga by henning mankell was a good book to read i liked it

Just finished Botchan: A Modern Classic and really liked it.

I'm almost finished Cranford & loved it. Much better than I even expected.

Just finishedThe Arraignment. Like it.

I have just finished three "so-so" books and I'm grumpy. I'm now looking for something extraordinary. Any suggestions?!

Eric wrote: "I just finished Roseanna. This was written in 1965, by a Swedish author. It is a murder mystery that takes place in Sweden. The plot was there and it kept my attention enough to fin..

Eric:
Roseanna is the first in a series of mysteries by Maj Sjöwall. I heard Roeanna is weak but I read The Laughing Policeman, a later book in the series, & I loved it! I also read The Man Who Went Up in Smoke With Earbuds which I liked a lot, though not quite as much as Laughing Policeman: A Martin Beck Police Mystery which I strongly recommend.

One of the problems with first installments in series is, I think, that they are often not the strongest in the series. Too much time is spent in exposition & setting up the series' characters and their relationships. I find a lot of series don't really get into full swing until at least the second & sometimes even the third book.

Anyway, I loved Laughing Policeman: A Martin Beck Police Mystery and strongly recommend it.

Ellie wrote: "Eric wrote: "I just finished Roseanna. This was written in 1965, by a Swedish author. It is a murder mystery that takes place in Sweden. The plot was there and it kept my attention ..."

Thanks Ellie,
I was looking for some feedback on this series, I think that I will take a look at a few of the other books.

Ellie wrote: "Eric wrote: "I just finished Roseanna. This was written in 1965, by a Swedish author. It is a murder mystery that takes place in Sweden. The plot was there and it kept my attention ..."

With titles like these, I think I'll have to do the same as Eric and look out for the series! Don't think I can resist something with the title:The Man Who Went Up in Smoke - with earbuds!!

Chris wrote: "I have just finished three "so-so" books and I'm grumpy. I'm now looking for something extraordinary. Any suggestions?!"

Go to your TBR pile. Pick up books that look good. read the first three pages. If you don't want to read on after three pages, put it back for another time and pick up another. Any that you want to read on, put to one side. If you suddenly realise you've read more than three pages and you forgot to stop, that's the one you need to read. If you get fed up looking, chose the best out of your pile of books that sparked your interest, or since you like reading multiple books, read the lot! This usually works for me.

Thanks Jackie, I'm going to get on with the Poison Tree and another Susan Hill. That should get me out of my "grumpy old troll" funk!

Chris wrote: "Thanks Jackie, I'm going to get on with the Poison Tree and another Susan Hill. That should get me out of my "grumpy old troll" funk!"

Which Susan Hill? I've had a good sort through my unread books and I am astounded by the number of books by Susan Hill I've collected to read. Luckily none of them are duplicates, but I think I'd better stop buying and start reading or it's only a matter of time before I buy something twice.

Hi Jackie
I've been reading the Simon Serrailler series, I'm up to the fifth now, Shadows in the Street. But I like the ghost stories and loved The Small Hand and The Woman in Black. I'm not sure which others to go for next. Which are your favourites?

Chris wrote: "Hi Jackie
I've been reading the Simon Serrailler series, I'm up to the fifth now, Shadows in the Street. But I like the ghost stories and loved The Small Hand and The Woman in Black. I'm not sure ..."

My current favourite is The Small Hand, but that could change when I get stuck into my stash. I haven't started on the Simon Serrallier series yet, but The Various Haunts of Men is on my TBR pile, so I'll get to them eventually.

I finished The Outsiders this afternoon. It's very good book - short,well paced and with interesting characters. Well worth reading!

Today I finished The Attorney. As you already know I like following a series. And this one certainly has certainly has a few novels to it. The protagonist Paul Madriani does seem to find himself in tricky situations for a being lawyer. I read a little of authors bio and he said that he bases his story's on experiences he had while he was practicing. I found this very interesting. Almost signed up law school today. Maybe not.

I've just finished In the Shadow of Gotham, which was excellent. It's the first in a new series, but the next book doesn't come out until next year.

The hunger games trilogy are good books to read in the summer as I finished the trilogy this morning.

Just finished Birds of Prey. It was ok.

Just finished Her Lover (Belle Du Seigneur). It's been described as the most romantic parisian novel. I don't agree with that since romantic love is portrayed in a negative manner, but it's full-on and beautifully written. Lots of satire too! Worth investing the time to read 900 plus pages

Just finished The Help. I like to discuss this book. So if you read it and have any thoughts about the ending or the author. I'd like to talk about it.

Eric wrote: "Just finished The Help. I like to discuss this book. So if you read it and have any thoughts about the ending or the author. I'd like to talk about it."

Eric, I really liked this book when I read it, but that was nearly two years ago. I'll look out my copy to refresh my memory. There are some great characters, I loved minnie. I found it incredible that this story was set in such recent history. How things have changed!
How did you find it, and what did you like best/

For anyone who likes graphic novels or just really good memoirs, check out Stitches by David Small. Good stuff.

Chris wrote: "Eric wrote: "Just finished The Help. I like to discuss this book. So if you read it and have any thoughts about the ending or the author. I'd like to talk about it."

Eric, I reall..."
(view spoiler)[
I did like the story being told from the maids point of view. Aibileen in my opinion has such strength and resilience. Even after she lost her own son she still continues raise her employers kids with such love and understanding. Aibileen and Mae Mobley's relationship is one that I think Aibileen really did change Mobley's life for the better. (hide spoiler)]

I've read the help too, and I agree with you, Eric, about Aibileen and Mae Mobley.
I thought it started slowly and I wasn't expecting to enjoy it that much based on the first few chapters. Then the story built up and up with more and more details added and I realised it was done deliberately to make you think about the characters and their situations. I got really wrapped up in it and was a bit sad when I finished it.

I finished the The Night Circus it was ok but not exactly what I expected it to be.

I just finished Out of Oz I thought it tied up alot of loose ends really well I just wish it had ended a little differently.