Book Club

[CareBears]

@proudlyfromNJ  It starts out really good,  I will post my final review when I finish!

[CANDLEQUEEN]

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@icezeus wrote:

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@Grammycakes wrote:

I started my reading this afternoone with about a third of My Lovely Wife to go. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!  Oh my gosh, the twists and turns!

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@Grammycakes 

I was trying to read a different book and I had been on the list at the LIbrary for My Lovely Wife of course when you don't want a book to come in it does.  The book has no renewals, so I have now put two books to the side to read this one. (sigh) I am enjoying the book and it's pretty interesting. Different concept that's for sure. I have never read anything like this. 

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@icezeus I am reading Dear Wife right now-it is so good! It is also a very quick read!

[pateacher]

I finished Chelsea Girls. The book reminded me a little of the movie The Way We Were because it included McCarthyism's scutiny of actors and authors.

The author had some interesting twists.

I've begun reading THe Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin. The narration is shared between Blanche and Claude Auzello, who run The Ritz in Paris during Nazi occupation.  Coincidentally, the feud between Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, which was a major element of The Last Collection,

is also mentioned in this book,

[SydneyH]

Not for the faint of heart or those easily offended, but some very solid advice for those who are truly questioning why they have no money.

[Catty2]

I just finished The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall.  It's about a contest that went on from the 1940's to the 1970's in New York.  It goes back and forth between 1949, following the life of one of the contestants, and the present when an advertising agency wants to bring it back in a nostalgic way to increase subway riders.  I really enjoyed it and the characters were interesting. 

[icezeus]

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@appm wrote:

I used to read V. C. Andrews books a long time ago.  Saw "Mirror Sisters" at the library and decided to read it.  It was excellent.  I didn't realize when i started the book that it was the first of three in the series (I found out when I finished the book that it wasn't "the end").  Looking forward to book number two in this series.

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@appm 

I read several of her books many many years ago, as in while I was in High School. I am 52 so that's how many years it has been LOL!!

I thought that she had died. 

[LoriLori]

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@pateacher wrote:

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@smoky22 wrote:

I read The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan.  Overall it's  a charming story of lost things and lost people and how they are sometimes reunited.   I could have done without the ghost aspect of the book, but I guess it served its purpose.  I loved the character of Sunshine, and of course there were the adorable dogs.  Sometimes a little trite, but mostly an enjoyable read.  Four stars.

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@smoky22 I also enjoyed this book, especially the idea of returning all the lost articles to their owners.  The ghost was a little much, I thought. Sunshine was aptly named!

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Ladies, I loved Ruth Hogan's "The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes."  Five stars, ten if I could.  Best book I've read in a while, so intelligent and charming.

I'm  looking forward to reading "The Keeper of Lost Things" ASAP (which will be a while) and also "Queenie Malone's Paradise Hotel."  I'm going to pass on "Normal People," the subject doesn't interest me.

[LoriLori]

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@pateacher wrote:

@LoriLori 

Believe it or not, I was flipping through the guide on my tv and noticed that We Have to Talk about Kevin was playing. What a coincidence!

I didn't get to see the entire movie, but I do understand what you mean. I almost changed the channel after the garbage disposal jammed.  Very disturbing!

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@pateacher 

Wow!  That's a major coincidence!!!  Thanks for posting about it.  The movie is so disturbing and leaves out so much but you got the idea.  Shriver's books are dense and both the ones I've read had incredibly shocking endings.  .The ending of "Kevin" may have affected me more deeply than that of any other book.  

They couldn't have done better with the film.  Tilda Swinton did an amazing job.  She won awards and so did the film.  The kids were great too and the dad.  Reading the garbage disposal scene was so painful and when he escalated...OMG.

MAJOR SPOILERS below, safe for PATeacher and anyone else who has seen or read it but it's an incredible movie.  Would you recommend it, PaTeacher?

Spoiler

The book is written as letters she's writing to what you think is her ex-husband, until the end.. You knew Kevin hated his sister (that poor child) but his mother thought he hated her too  and then it turns out it was his father he despised.  The irony of the dad buying the bow and arrow, OMG!  And then Kevin leaving them there as a gift for her, knowing she'd find them at the end of the longest, most difficult day of her life.  

I suppose the book is ruined for you now but I'm very glad you got to see the power of what they were able to show with limited time.and Shriver's shocking end...imagine reading the whole thing thinking they're divorced and then at the very end...I'll never forget it.

Still surprised -- and pleased -- at the coincidence.  :hug:

[BirkiLady]

Since my previous post in August, I've also read:

Beloved by Toni Morrison (*to**) Dark and depressing.

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks (*****)

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (*****)

[beckyb1012]

Daisy Jones & the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid; If you enjoyed being young and in high school/college in the late 70's jamming to Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks this book will take you back.  Loved it.

The Gifted School, by  Bruce Holsinger;  Mercy the things parent will do get their children ahead as we are witnessing with the College Admission scandals.  This book is grade school to high school level from upper economy to a working class family trying to get into the best.  I really enjoyed this book.

The Chelsea Girls, by Fiona Davis.  About half way through and not as good as I had hoped.  Her last The Masterpiece was not up to the high quality of The Dollhouse or The Address.  I really had hoped her next would be but so far it is lacking  compared to her first works.