I reviewed two free books from Amazon's Vine under Curt's name, sort of with the stipulation that they had to be reviewed. One, an ARC, was Forced Out
by Stephen Frey which I really didn't care for and the other was The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller which was much better imo. It felt like doing someone
else's homework but I knew that going in and if I want more free books, I'll have to suck it up and write them up. It wouldn't be so bad if they
were totally in my name but we had to compromise and write it as B and C Blanchard so I could get partial credit. They sent Curt the offer so that's why
it's the way it is.
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BOOK Chats one Sat per month SATURDAY Chat times Eastern Time : 3pm Central: 2 pm Mtn: 1 pm Pacific Time: 12 noon London, Dublin: 8pm Vienna: 9 pm New Zealand SUNDAY 8 am (Wellington) (see dates at right) |
CURRENT SCHEDULE ALL SATURDAYS NOW Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman 720 pp JANUARY 16 The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch 448 pp FEBRUARY 13 WHODUNNIT The Red Door by Charles Todd 352 pp Out Dec 29th MARCH 13 Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova 576 pp (pub date 1/12/2010) APRIL 17 The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters 528 pp (paperback pub 5/4/2010) MAY 22 |
0 Kudo
BOOK TALK-general #4 2008
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 Blanchard |
#141 | |||
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12/05/08 10:20 PM BCC Zen Bookie Master
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Betsy
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Olle |
#142 | |||
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12/09/08 08:25 AM |
Rema, I thought of you when I saw the book page in our Sunday paper, they had a review for a new Lawrence Block book called "One Night Stands and Lost
Weekends." The review isn't glowing and does say 'this book is really for those fans who've read the author's contemporary work' and
they have 'already been published in separate collectors' volumes at the turn of the century.' (I'll admit that line threw me because, in my
mind, the turn of the century is from 1899 to 1900! lol)
Then, over my morning cereal I was looking at an old "Bookpage" which I pick up at the library. Full of titles/reviews. Listen to what a reviewer said about "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane: ...with his deeply moving historical novel, the problem falls to readers to find someting -- anything -- that doesn't pale in comparison once they've closed the covers on this 720-page masterpiece. Quite simply, The Given Day is about as close to the great American novel as we're likely to read until...well, until Lehane write another. Do you think the reviewer knows Lehane? ;) Has anyone here read this book? Plus, I see Ivan Doig has a new (?) book called "The eleventh Man." (Said to be a 'panoramic page-turner about WWII as seen mostly through the eyes of Ben Reinking, a GI reporter assigned by the gov'n propaganda machine to write about the exploits of his former teammates (football). Oh and for the history lovers (Jodi et al). Biography of/titled "Nathan Hale" by M William Phelps.
Olle
Last Edited By: Olle 12/12/08 02:06 PM.
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jodijoy |
#143 | |||
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12/09/08 08:45 AM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
I just finished reading the Lehane book (I think Betsy read it too). Not what I was expecting (thought it was more of a mystery/thriller). My favorite
character was Luther (and the old photos). Not sure I'd agree it's the great American novel though.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up...[and] live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men
are created equal. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Olle |
#144 | |||
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12/09/08 09:03 AM |
Jodi, I just read in another thread that you'd received this as a large-print at 1,000+ pages so was looking forward to hearing what you thought of it.
While not the next GAN, would you recommend it? How about as a door-stop? stool for getting into a high cupboard? excellent spider squisher?
Olle
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jodijoy |
#145 | |||
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12/09/08 09:16 AM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
I did like the book - wouldn't call it a drop-everything and must read though.
Definitely a first-class spider squisher and paperweight. Also helpful as a clothes press. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up...[and] live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men
are created equal. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Blanchard |
#146 | |||
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12/09/08 11:05 AM BCC Zen Bookie Master
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I agree with Jodi 100%. Not the GAN; an interesting read but not headline material. I'm not sorry that I read it but wouldn't go overboard with
recommendations.
Betsy
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wernoclue |
#147 | |||
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12/09/08 06:04 PM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
Library Thing's December batch of Early Reviewer books is up. There's a new one available from John Updike, The Widows of Eastwick, a sequel
to the well known Witches of Eastwick, of course. Unfortuantely, it's only available to Canadians! Pfft!
Isn't it odd that this board has no Canadian members? ETA: Forgot to mention that there are 70 other titles on offer, too.
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen
Last Edited By: wernoclue 12/09/08 06:06 PM.
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Olle |
#148 | |||
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12/12/08 02:10 PM |
FYI, Eric hangs out at the Scifi/Fantasy BCC board and he's from Canada. Sometimes he comes over hear to find out what people are reading. Bet others are
lurking! Waiting for Horton to hear them?
Olle
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kathylaz |
#149 | |||
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12/14/08 07:27 PM |
Couple of links to share, from the NYTimes book review:
Essay: Bail Out The Writers! And a list of their top 10 books of 2008 (some look really good): Top 10 of 2008 This is a recent link, of their 100 most notable books of the year: 100 Most Notable Maybe you should read this one before you read the Top 10 if you don't want spoilers! And, isn't it time for OUR annual "best of" list? I may have to start the thread if I can't find it already started.
kathy
Reading Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski and listening to Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow |
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bayjoens |
#150 | |||
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12/15/08 12:15 AM |
Just finished The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald Hill. I liked it well enough but am starting to get frustrated with the endings. Here is a spoiler
only for those of you who have read all the books so far. If you haven't, please skip it...
And also finished The Fire, the new sequel to The Eight, by Katherine Neville. Unfortunately, this one was a bit long and convoluted. I am not sure I got it all. If anyone here has read it and wants to help, let me know. Sandra |
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BCCJillster |
#151 | |||
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12/15/08 08:57 AM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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Re mysteries and endings, some authors are great for a quick fix to fill the need for a puzzle (the drumroll...Ta Dah school) or procedural justice (like
Connelly or Crais), and I love them too. But in defense of Reginald Hill, he's always been more complex and textured and gives so much along the way that
his endings don't seem unusual or uncomfortable to me. One of the Franny Root books did puzzle me at the end (the first or second, I can't recall)
because it left doors open, but Hill tends to do the slow rollout instead of the Ta Dah. And he's never brought in a ringer for the ending or given us
illogical solutions. I think Betsy might share some of Sandra's frustration, yes?
Most of Hill's endings have to do with advancing the relationships among the characters once the mystery is solved. This last one was particularly interesting on that score. But Hill isn't like popping candy, more like chewing taffy LOL. I love popping a couple of short quick puzzlers in a row; it's been too long since I did that, maybe a quick Christmas session.
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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Blanchard |
#152 | |||
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12/15/08 01:16 PM BCC Zen Bookie Master
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I haven't extensively read Reginald Hill and can't say how I felt about his endings but I don't recall (for what that means!) any that left me hung
out at the end. I would like to read more RH. I feel that I should read more of the earlier ones before taking on one such as Butcher's Hill (?), is that
the right thing?
On the lists that Kathy posted from the NYT, I am ashamed to say that I've read only one: Tim Winton's Breath and for you purists, I did listen to it rather than pick up the print version. To me that counts but you may or may not agree. I enjoyed it in spite of the rather dark atmosphere. I'm unsure why but it just flowed. I am so unsure of Toni Morrison's output and can't trust her any longer, I fear. The critics are turning themselves inside out in their eagerness to praise her newest book but that's water that I may not put a toe in this time. Have I mixed enough metaphors for you here?
Betsy
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wernoclue |
#153 | |||
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12/15/08 02:13 PM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
I feel the same way about Toni Morrison's book. I keep seeing it (cheap!) at Costco but just can't bring myself to pick it up.
I look for Reginald Hill books at the library just before we went on vacation and there are several of the early ones that they don't even have. I had requested the three earliest that they did have and... I don't know, they just kind of fell off my reserve list. They might have come and gone while we were away.
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen |
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BCCJillster |
#154 | |||
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12/15/08 02:48 PM BCC ZEN BOOKIE COOKIE
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Any used book store should have a ton of Reginald Hill oldies. You're right, I would seek out earlier ones because he does a lot of character development
in them (espec. Wieldy) and later in the series a lot is assumed. The early bits about how crass Andy usually is are too funny to miss (his clashes with Peter
Pascoe's wife Ellie and her friends for instance). I really enjoy the combination of intelligence and belly laughs.
Betsy, say more about Winton's book? he's the one who wrote The Riders, which we read a bazillion years ago, so I'm wondering if I should try Breath.
Currently reading: Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh, gave up on The White Tiger
Just Finished: The Price of Butcher's Meat by Reginald HIll, abandoned Echoes from the Dead by Johan Theorin ; Death with Interruptions by Saramago, Brass Verdict by Connelly |
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wernoclue |
#155 | |||
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12/15/08 04:45 PM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
I checked the UBS here on campus for Hill and similar authors before vacation and found ... nada.
The Rocky Mountain News (which is currently for sale with no buyer in sight) ran their piece on best books by first-time authors last week. I was particularly interested in this one, not because of the plot description but because of the "Best Reason to Read" section: The OutlanderFull article at this link: Rocky Critics Celebrate Fresh Voices in Literature
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen |
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Olle |
#156 | |||
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12/15/08 09:28 PM |
Karen, thanks for the book rec, sounds like a good one.
Kathy, thanks for the links, they're being passed on!
Olle
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bayjoens |
#157 | |||
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12/15/08 09:32 PM |
I'm also staying away from Toni Morrison's new book until someone tells me I have to read it. One book that I am working on now is Dos Passos's
Manhattan Transfer. He was mentioned by Jacqueline Winspear as a premier American writer but I hadn't heard of him and thought I would give it a try. My
problem is that this books is written as a series of short scenes, about a page to two pages long, sometimes shorter and sometimes longer. The characters have
nothing to do with each other. It takes place in New York City in the 1920's. Actually, I think a better description is that it a character study of NYC
itself in the 1920's. Although I like his voices and the writing quite a bit, I am having a hard time sticking with it. (I read the new Reginald Hill and
the new Katherine Neville while working on the first 100 pages of this book.) First of all, I don't like short stories and this feels like a whole bunch of
very, very short stories. Second, it is a dark economic time in US history and I am having a hard time reading about it and wondering if we are on our way down
there now. Still, I want to finish it.
Sea of Poppies and The Brass Verdict and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are all waiting for me at the library. I have a feeling they will all work their way up the pile and be done before Manhattan Transfer. Sandra |
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Blanchard |
#158 | |||
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12/16/08 12:36 AM BCC Zen Bookie Master
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I've just started Dragon Tattoo and although it's a slow, slow beginning, I stuck it out and it's picking up now which isn't too far into the
book. I'll write more tomorrow re Breath, Jill. Too late for me now.
Betsy
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wernoclue |
#159 | |||
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12/29/08 03:18 AM BCC ZEN Bookie MASTER |
Picked up the link to this article from a thread at LibraryThing on the problems faced in publishing: End of the book? Thought others here might find it of
interest.
Karen
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. - Anna Quindlen |
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Blanchard |
#160 | |||
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12/29/08 11:57 AM BCC Zen Bookie Master
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Breath (Tim Winton) takes place in Australia and is set in a time past but I'm unsure how long ago, perhaps thirty years? The narrator was in high school
at the beginning of the book and was totally enthralled by surfing and everything about the sport. A young couple lives nearby and the male half is an amazing
surfer so of course, the young narrator and his friend become worshipers at the feet of the older surfer (who was probably all of 25 or thirty). I'm vague
on the details and they don't matter much. The surfers become an inseparable trio while the wife is an outsider. The kids learn a lot and we do too as time
goes by. Although I'm obviously not a part of the surfing culture, I found it fascinating but of course, it all stands for life rather than merely a sport.
I can't say much more w/out spoilers so I will say this: don't be put off by the surfer environment. This book has more going for it than that. I
wonder how much I have to owe my interest to the audio version which lent a great atmosphere to the telling of the story? I may not have been as engrossed by
reading it but it's a tough call. Try it, Jill and see what you think!
Betsy
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