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Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,620
Registered: ‎09-22-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

 


@Colinka wrote:

I am a librarian, and I usually recommend books to patrons. But last week a patron came in, and said she had just read the best book ever. It was "A Gentleman from Moscow" by Amor Towles. It's been out for about a year,  but receiving a lot of good press and praise. I finally got a copy, and am just about to start it. Has anybody on this forum read it?

 

I love this forum, and pass on your recommendations to my patrons! Plus, I value your comments, and use them to select my own books.


I read this book quite awhile ago - infact it was recommended by one of the libraians at the branch I use!  I loved the book.  

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,048
Registered: ‎05-30-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

I finished My Italian Bulldozer.  Charming.

 

And I must have won the book lottery.  So many books I recommended to my library (even ages ago) suddenly became available.  Some of them I don't even think I care about anymore.  We'll see. 

 

I chose a more current book to read next, Autumn, by Ali Smith.  It's a Man Booker Prize finalist.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,945
Registered: ‎02-20-2016

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

DiAnne, A Gentleman in Moscow is a charming, interesting book. I adore it!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 805
Registered: ‎06-25-2015

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

I am still working on the Outlander books. Now reading The Fiery Cross.  It's not quite as interesting to me as her other books so far. I have only read Drums in Autumn (is that the name?) and this one.  I HAVE watched every episode of the series on TV and love them.  I WILL read all the books in time, but they are so long I can't whip 'em out as fast as other books.  To get a change of pace, I did start Enigma by Catherine Coulter.  I am on a waiting list for Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille.  Some of you seem to not like it as well as some of his others.  I really love the John Corey character, but I guess I can learn to enjoy a new one.  And, of course, Lee Child has a new Jack Reacher book coming in November.

Regular Contributor
Posts: 156
Registered: ‎03-24-2015

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

Smoky2016:  I recently read "My Italian Bulldozer" by Alexander

McCall Smith and absolutely loved it.  He is a wonderful writer.

I met him several years ago at a book signing, and he was as

friendly, funny and charming in person as you would expect.

 

Just finished "A Man Called Ove" - loved it, too.  Now reading

Louise Penny's newest: "Glass Houses".  She creates such

atmosphere and sense of place with her writing.  Friend mentioned

that they made a movie of "Ove".  Going to see if I can find it -

she said it's as good as the book.

 

Also reading my way through Peter Robinson's DCI Banks mysteries,

after watching the series on our local PBS.

 

Happy reading everyone!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,617
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

@Sue in cincinnati  The movie A Man Called Ove was really good. At first I didn't think so, but then I changed my mind. It didn't delve into a few things I wished it had, but still, it was good. I think everyone here has read the book, LOL.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,383
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017


@sunala wrote:

@beckyb1012 wrote:

The Address, by Fiona Davis


 

@beckyb1012- I really want to read this. I'm fascinated by "Old New York."


It took me some time since reading your above post to remember the name of the book below.  You have probably read it and it is the other side of "Old New York" the poorer lower classes that live and try to survive in the surrounding areas.  I so love reading about that time period sometimes I think I was born to late.  If you have not read I highly recommend @sunala

 

Biography

Betty Smith was born Elisabeth Wehner on December 15, 1896, the same date as, although five years earlier than, her fictional heroine Francie Nolan. The daughter of German immigrants, she grew up poor in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, the very world she recreates with such meticulous detail in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Smith also wrote other novels and had a long career as a dramatist, writing one-act and full-length plays for which she received both the Rockefeller Fellowship and the Dramatists Guild Fellowship. She died in 1972.

 

"Live frugally, but love extravagantly."
Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,193
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

[ Edited ]

Paging all psychological thriller fans; do not even hesitate reading GOOD ME BAD ME by. ALI LAND!  I was sold right from page 1 to the end.  I read this in an afternoon; couldn’t put it down!  I won’t divulge any info for fear of spoiling, but a winner for me.  The old saying, “...you can’t judge a book by its cover...” does not apply to this book!  It has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen with touches of gold glitter.  I love the discovery of an excellent book by new & upcoming authors!

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,293
Registered: ‎03-15-2010

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

Picked up two new books at the library to read this weekend:  "THE WITCHES' TREE:  AN AGATHA RAISIN MYSTERY" by M. C. Beaton and "NOTHING STAYS BURIED" by P. J. Tracy (the latest in the Monkeewrench mystery series).

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,775
Registered: ‎08-30-2015

Re: WHAT ARE YOU READING? OCTOBER 2017

I am reading are you sleeping by Kathleen Barber, it is so good, I copied this review from GoodReads as again I just could not put into words as this person did:

 

What happens when your past comes back to haunt you? In “Are You Sleeping” by Kathleen Barber, the main character, Josie Burhman finds out. And for her, it isn’t pretty. 

Josie has spent ten years hiding from her past, going so far as to legally change her name and traveling abroad aimlessly for five years before setting down roots in New York. But as we all know, you can’t escape your past for long. Josie’s father was murdered, thirteen years prior. Her mother, unable to cope, takes off for California, joining a cult, leaving Josie and her twin sister Lanie, in the care of her Aunt. Lanie loses it and strikes out at everyone she loves. And Josie? She leaves right after her High School graduation. Ten years later she is living a new life in New York with her boyfriend Caleb. The problem? He knows nothing of her past and Josie doesn’t want him to find out. Unfortunately for Josie, an investigative reporter creates a series of podcasts reopening the investigation into her father’s death, which coincides with her mother’s suicide. And then? All hell breaks loose, forcing Josie to go back home for the first time in ten years in order to confront her family and her past. 

In “Are You Sleeping” the author, Kathleen Barber, did a phenomenal job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. Every time I thought knew what was going to happen I was wrong. The pacing of the novel was quick, the storyline drew me in immediately and the characters were all consuming. The character of Josie gripped me and she wouldn’t let go. There were times when I was completely exasperated with her, yet I liked her a lot. And the character of Ellen, Josie’s cousin? Loved her. She made me laugh. A lot. I also liked the social media aspect of the story as it created a dynamic I am not familiar with. I found “Are You Sleeping” to be a suspenseful mystery that flowed fairly well and kept me interested throughout, thus if you are looking for a good mystery, this is it.