^I read “The Pale Horse” by AC as a kid, and for some reason it scared the dickens out of me. But we’re talking 40 years ago, so I can’t tell you if it would still read the same way. But that memory has stayed with me.
@kathiep- I completely agree. Love Anthony was contrived and I wasn’t thrilled with the ending either.
I am planning on starting “Room” next.
@gondalineNJ, I haven’t visited this thread in quite a while, so I’m late to comment on your post on Life After Life and The Impossible Life of Greta Wells, which are interesting books to compare and contrast. Like you, I adored the former (in fact, just picked it for my book club) and was terribly disappointed in the latter. As one example of the differences, I found Ursula’s devotion to her younger brother and her desire to save him to be both charming and heartbreaking, whereas Greta’s similar feelings were just creepy. If anyone’s kid is taking a contemporary American lit class in college, I’d suggest these two books as great fodder for a paper.
I just finished “And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini, the author of “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. I think it surpassed both of his previous efforts. Loved it so much I just wanted to hug it when I was done.
I can’t put down “The Woman Upstairs” by Claire Messud. Very angry, but I’m intrigued with the unfolding story.
MommaJ, I loved “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” so I’ll have to give this other book a shot as well!!
Seiclan, I heard Jay Asher the author of “Thirteen Reasons Why” speak at an educational conference I attended in the spring and I picked up a copy of the book there. I had set it aside but will pick up soon. He was quite an engaging speaker.
I just finished “Stormchaser” by Jenna Blum the author of “Those Who Save Us” as I am still working my way through the collection of books I picked up when Borders when out of business. Didn’t think as engaging as “Those Who Save Us” but I still enjoyed it, very easy to get into, learned about tornadoes and those who chase storms and I think she is good at developing characters that you care about.
The voracious readers who visit this thread might enjoy the following from today’s New York Times: <a href=“The Lost Slumgullions of English - The New York Times”>The Lost Slumgullions of English - The New York Times;
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. Exquisitely written and astonishingly well-translated.
Here is a review that mirrors many of my thoughts about the book, if anyone is interested:
[1Q84</a> by Haruki Murakami - review | Books | The Guardian](<a href=“http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/18/haruki-murakami-1q84-review]1Q84”>1Q84 by Haruki Murakami - review | Books | The Guardian)
An excerpt from The Guardian’s review:
Mein Kamph
-Adolf Hitler
Best book I’ve ever read.
Has anyone read Wonder by R.J. Palacio? I think it’s a YA book, but it’s one of those that transcends age. I heard an intriguing interview with the author on NPR. I’m now halfway through and can’t put it down.
kathiep mentioned “The Possibility Dogs” upthread - I just finished another book by the same author (Susannah Charleson) called “Scent of the Missing”. I thought the focus would be on search and rescue, but the real heart of the story is about Susannah raising a search and rescue dog from a puppy. Absolutely delightful, and I love her writing style!
Before that I read “Five Days at Memorial”, by Sheri Fink, about the people and pets who were left stranded at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans during Katrina, and the arrests of a doctor and two nurses that followed. I did not care for her writing at all, but I am still glad I read the book. Fink wasn’t “there”, her account is a compilation of the stories of others. Unfortunately for me, that aspect took away from its credibility, rather than enhanced it.
I’m reading “Salinger” at the moment. Really interesting!
LasMa–I enjoyed Wonder also. Another YA gem.
Lasma–I just read “The Grand Tour: Around the World with the Queen of Mystery”. It is letters and journal entries from a 10 month trip with her (Agatha Christie’s) husband. I would read some of her mysteries first, though. I think “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” was her first. There is also an interesting BBC movie based on her life called, I think, “A Life in Pictures”.
Fllight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver. Wonderful book.
Sorry to be so late in replying! Thanks for your post.
I plunged in with three Hercule Poirots: Murder on the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, and * The Murder of Roger Ackroyd*. Good stuff! Although I haven’t yet gotten the knack of picking up the important clues as we go along. That’s all right though; I enjoy the journey and the final reveal.
LasMa–the great thing about Agatha Christie is that the final reveal is always a surprise. She’s that good.
LasMa, great choices! I have read all of them, and I love them all!
I just finished “The Eye of the Albatross” by Carl Safina. An excellent “nature” book. I knew nothing about the species of albatross (or most seabirds) before reading this. It is a very interesting read, alternating between following the flight of a female albatross with a nestling (she has a transmitter), and discussing various issues impacting the whole ecosystem in the Pacific Ocean where they live. In addition to a lot of interesting stuff about the birds and animals and ecosystem, the writer has interesting experiences and observations with the people and places he visits as well. The guy who wrote it won a MacArthur Fellowship (“genius grant”), and I can see why. This book has given me a lot to think about, which I guess is a hallmark of a good book to me. I also want to go see an albatross now…
Not sure if anyone has mentioned The Orchardist but it is a well written and well edited book. Also the author is young and it took her 8 years to write. I think it should win a literature award.