@scout59, I liked The Bone Clocks. I’m a huge Mitchell fan, and have to say I didn’t love it like I love Cloud Atlas or Jacob deZoet.
I felt the same way as jaylynn about Bone Clocks.
Me too, but even non top-shelf Mitchell is vastly superior to most everything else!
Very, very true.
Has anyone read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante? I was completely and utterly blown away by it. It is a very closely observed study of a friendship of two fiercely competitive and talented young girls growing up in a setting – southern Italy in some undefined past decade of the 20th century – in which female achievement was beyond the imagination of the community in which they lived. It is breathtakingly, stunningly good. It might seem a tiny bit slow, but I think that’s because it is so dense and psychologically rich and delectable that the reader naturally slows down to chew over every word. I especially recommend it if you are an adolescent girl, have ever been an adolescent girl, or happen to be close to an adolescent girl. And, if you’ve read it, please let me know … My book club has stubbornly passed it over and I’m dying to chat about it!
^^^
My Brilliant Friend is book #1 in a trilogy - at least, it started as a trilogy. Looks like the author plans to keep it going: “Though originally planned as a trilogy, the story doesn’t finish here, as this book ends with a hook that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.” BookList
Book #2: *The Story of a New Name<a href=“Sept%202013”>/i</a>
Book #3: *Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay<a href=“Sept%202014”>/i</a>
I have the first book but haven’t read it yet; sounds like I should get going!
Just ordered My Brilliant Friend, thanks, nottelling. It’s only $2.99 on Amazon for the Kindle version at the moment, in case anyone else is thinking of ordering it.
I’m reading JoJo Moyes’ The Horse Dancer. I’m a horse lover so I’m really enjoying it. I think non-horse people would enjoy it too but it’s hard to judge because I have a very emotional reaction to the content.
I just finished Revival by Stephen King and was equally disturbed and disappointed. I am a big fan of King’s writing but found this one to be weak. The characters never grabbed me and the plot was plodding. It also had a fatalistic/pessimistic overtone that is not present in his other work (as dark as most of it is).
Before that one I read 11/22/63 by King and loved it.
I am now reading Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. So far it has me.
I just read a good first novel called the String Diaries and it scared me! Think long lived stalker who stalks women from a family over generations.
Oooh, TempeMom, that sounds good! Who wrote it?
The String Diaries by Stephen Lloyd Jones.
I am reading We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Fowler and really enjoying it. It was recommended by Anthony Doerr, the author of All the Light We Cannot See If you decide to read it, don’t read anything about it, not the book jacket or reviews. That was recommended to me and I’m so glad I had no idea what it is about.
I am currently reading Pegasus by Danielle Steel.
@Tempemom , I got behind on this thread, but I also read “Counting by 7s” recently and enjoyed it.
Cartera–i really liked that book! Actually, I did hear the thing, and it didn’t end up making much difference to me, though I guess I don’t know what the experience would be like if I hadn’t. But it’s made clear pretty soon in the book. Anyway, overall, a good, thoughtful read.
Cartera- I just checked out We Are … From my online library. Thanks for the recommendation- I came here in search of something new to read at bedtime. I often give the same advice to read a book without any idea what it is about.
I just finished Dorothy Sayers’ “Gaudy Night”. I somehow had missed reading her books so far in life (on my eventual list for ever), but have been working my way through them the past few months. All are good, but this was a cut above (as many have noted.) A beautifully written book, great characters, lots of insightful discussion of big ideas, and perfect ending. Really enjoyed it.
Finished We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves last night and I think I’m going to go for the Audible Daily Deal today. It is I’ll Be Right There by Kyung Sook-Shin. I’m also giving The Interestings another shot. I didn’t get into it the first time around.