Re: Ayelet Waldman: haven’t read that one but enjoyed her previous novel, Red Hook Road, well enough. She’s a bit of a fruitcake – she threw a very public, profanity filled hissy fit on Twitter and Facebook when Love and Treasure wasn’t named one of the New York Times’ notable books of 2014. It’s worth Googling for entertainment value.
At our company, somebody suggested employees shared non-work-related books near the kitchen/cafeteria area. Anyone is welcome to put his/her book there and borrow any book there.
I randomly pick up one book that looks newer and not so stinky to read.
The book is “The Imperial Cruise” by James Bradley. (I think he also authored another book called Flyboys, likely about WW II.)
Oh, Boy, this author’s view is so gloomy/dark. Basically, he painted a picture that our country in the “Teddy” Roosevelt era was run by a bunch of idiots (e.g., Secretary of War, i.e., Secretary of Defense Department in those years, William Taft) at best, and the racist (T. Roosevelt and later MacArthur) at worst.
I have not studied much about US history. Were the first Roosevelt and politicians in those years really that “bad” or this author just happens to be on the “dark” side when he views everything? It seems he almost implies that so many of our soldiers suffered during WW II, Korea War was due to their faults in foreign policy in Asia.
CBB in Gone Girl they were both despicable. The Girl on the Train did that better by 3.
I liked The Girl on the Train much better than Gone Girl. I don’t see how The Girl on the Train could be called a knock-off of Gone Girl. Except for the use of the unreliable narrator, which is quite common, I don’t get the comparison.
It was just a feeling I had while reading it. I guess those are two books where everyone of the main characters were awful people is what gave me that feeling.
@bookmama22 I felt the same way about the Waldman book. And I usually do like her writing.
Also felt the same way that many of you did about The Girl on the Train. I’m in the middle of The Last Policement trilogy.
I loved loved loved Everything I Never Told You, but part of that (much of that) is my history-- I grew up in Lydia’s world (minus her parents’ pressure but they were still Chinese, so… lol).
Still working my way through the Tournament of Books list. There’s some slow going there. Whew.
@jaylynn how do you like The Last Policeman trilogy so far?
Very much. I’ve only read the first and am partway into the second. The setting give a new poignancy to the plot and the characters.
@jaylynn - I thought The Last Policeman books got better and better. Let us know what you think! I am still thinking about the ending of World of Trouble days after I finished the book.
I will put them on my list also
Putting The Last Policeman books on my list!
Just finished The Chessmen, the last book in Peter May’s Lewis triology. I still think the first–The Blackhouse–is the best of the 3, but liked this one better than the second, The Lewis Man. If you like mysteries with real characters, I highly recommend all 3. May is a superb writer, IMO.
I also finished the most recent Flavia de Luce, which is set in Canada. I didn’t like it as much as the earlier ones, but a mediocre Flavia is still lots of fun!
Next up is My Brilliant Friend, which I am reading because of comments in this thread.
I just finished the Raine Benares series by Lisa Shearin, if you like fantasy books with a load of sardonic humor, you may like this, full of great characters, bad and good, and a load of fun.
I have “Girl on the Train” on my to read list, likely will reserve it in the library rather than buy it given the mixed comments. I enjoyed “Gone Girl” while I was reading it, even though the premise was a bit too much to buy. I did see the Chameleon Club book on the 14 day book shelves in the library.. the reviews on that book sounded interesting. Anyone read it?
Glad for the comments on Love & Treasure.
Jonri, I liked The Lewis Man as much as the Blackhouse. They are two of favorite books I’ve read over the last year. I’m really looking forward to reading the last one, but I am loving the audio versions and the third one is not available right now.
“Lean in”
Will pick up a copy for DD
Gone Girl SPOILER:
Amy was repeatedly characterized as being SOOOOOO smart. Then why was she so incredibly DUMB at the campground where she met the two grifters? Who didn’t see that coming from the get go?
My favorite recent book has been So We Read On by Maureen Corrigan about the writing, publishing, reactions to and more of The Great Gatsby. Very well written, engaging and insightful.
Just finished The Girl On The Train. It was a page turner, but I agree that the characters were unlikeable. The main character often irritated the crap out of me.
Still, I couldn’t put it down.
I just finished Wild. I enjoyed it and was reminded of how much I enjoyed hiking in the woods, and just being outdoors as a kid. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but normally like the book versions better.