Re: What Are You Reading --- February 2014

Lynneuk · ‎03-10-2010

On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
On 2/24/2014 smokymtngal said:
On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
Reading Life after Life by Kate Atkinson since it was chosen as one of 10 Best Books of 2013 by the New York Book Review.

I'm having a hard time getting interested. The central character repeatedly looping back in time to relive her life over and over again. Sets in 1910 England. She eventually comes to realize though deja vu and tries to prevent the war by killing Hitler.

I am 25 percent in and she has died about 5 times already and has not reached her mid teens yet. Each time she lives a little longer before something happens to her. I like the premise of the story but I'm skimming the book and not reading. How many times can I read the beginning over and over again.

Should I continue? Has anyone read this?

I loved Life After Life, but I can tell from reading other posters here that the book is not for everyone. I loved reading about all the possible incarnations of Ursula depending on external circumstances. I especially liked the sections of the book dealing with the difference between her life in England and her life in Germany during World War 2.

But I've given up on relying on best book lists anyway. One list I read included Bleeding Edge as a best book of the year and I struggled to make it through Chapter 3 before I gave up on it.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll read another 2 chapters and see if it holds my interest.

I've really enjoyed several Kate Atkinson's books but I just couldn't get in to this one. I tried because I really wanted to love it but I just wasn't enjoying it and had to force myself to read it which is not fun,lol.

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
On 2/24/2014 smokymtngal said:
On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
Reading Life after Life by Kate Atkinson since it was chosen as one of 10 Best Books of 2013 by the New York Book Review.

I'm having a hard time getting interested. The central character repeatedly looping back in time to relive her life over and over again. Sets in 1910 England. She eventually comes to realize though deja vu and tries to prevent the war by killing Hitler.

I am 25 percent in and she has died about 5 times already and has not reached her mid teens yet. Each time she lives a little longer before something happens to her. I like the premise of the story but I'm skimming the book and not reading. How many times can I read the beginning over and over again.

Should I continue? Has anyone read this?

I loved Life After Life, but I can tell from reading other posters here that the book is not for everyone. I loved reading about all the possible incarnations of Ursula depending on external circumstances. I especially liked the sections of the book dealing with the difference between her life in England and her life in Germany during World War 2.

But I've given up on relying on best book lists anyway. One list I read included Bleeding Edge as a best book of the year and I struggled to make it through Chapter 3 before I gave up on it.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll read another 2 chapters and see if it holds my interest.

Uh, oh. Life After Life is my library book club's April selection. After reading its summary, I would not have selected it. But I'll let you know how it goes for me when I start reading it.

Lynneuk · ‎03-10-2010

Just finished a very enjoyable mystery by a British author, Before We Met by Lucie Whitehouse.

Highly recommended if you enjoy an intelligent mystery. I'm going to the library tomorrow to pick up her other book.

SWEET · ‎03-09-2010

For some reason, my post from yesterday didn't post?

I finished Kris Radish's Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral. It was ok. A little too long.

Onto Lisa Lutz's The Last Word.

Judaline · ‎03-10-2010

For lovers of Bertie and the Alexander McCall Smith 44 Scotland Street series. I'm reading Bertie Plays the Blues. I love this kid. Just want to share one itty bitty paragraph from this book-he's at school and his mother evidently forgot to pick him up. A little girl classmate says to him, 'you know your mother's problems are far more serious than this, don't you Bertie? I mean, you do know this, don't you Bertie?' These kids aren't even seven years old!!!!! So hilarious. I would love it if the book were just about Bertie, but it is intermixed with all the 'usual suspects' and I really like almost all of them. What a great author he is. It's a pleasure knowing I have his book waiting for me every night.

Linders Back · ‎03-10-2010

Just finished a "wick*d pissa" of a murder mystery caper set in and around Boston:

The Charlestown Connection by Tom MacDonald. Fans of Parker's Spenser and Hawk, Dennis Lehane's Kenzie and Genero, and the writing style of Elmore Leonard, will enjoy this one.

It has the IRA, Homeland Security, a recovering alcoholic MicMac Indian ex BC football player, the MOB, art forgers, suspected Somali terrorists, and more in its crazy cast of characters. Full of twists, turns, and red herrings. First time author and boy does he have a way with words and a great sense of humor.

LOL: QVC would not allow my original post because of the word "wick*d" but "pissa" was OK.

abbalulu · ‎03-20-2012

I read The Silent Wife by A. S. A. Harrison. It was not great but was kind of an interesting character study. Then I read There's More To Life Than This by Theresa Caputo who is the Long Island medium.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx

z-da! · ‎07-27-2011

(Xi-Loom), a short science fiction fantasy. I liked it! What is your opinion?

walkingal · ‎03-09-2010

Reading and very much enjoying Tanis Rideout's Above All Things, a historical novel about George and Ruth Mallory and Mallory's assault on Mount Everest in 1924. It's an adventure, a mystery, a tragedy, a love story. I found the book while searching for WWI era novels. I love reading about Mount Everest and the mountaineers; I enjoyed the Discovery Channel's documentary on her a few years back. I was checking out Ladies Home Journal's book club the other day, and lo and behold, this same novel is their current selection!

Yahooey · ‎07-09-2010

On 2/24/2014 Troop_Angel said:
On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
On 2/24/2014 smokymtngal said:
On 2/24/2014 Yahooey said:
Reading Life after Life by Kate Atkinson since it was chosen as one of 10 Best Books of 2013 by the New York Book Review.

I'm having a hard time getting interested. The central character repeatedly looping back in time to relive her life over and over again. Sets in 1910 England. She eventually comes to realize though deja vu and tries to prevent the war by killing Hitler.

I am 25 percent in and she has died about 5 times already and has not reached her mid teens yet. Each time she lives a little longer before something happens to her. I like the premise of the story but I'm skimming the book and not reading. How many times can I read the beginning over and over again.

Should I continue? Has anyone read this?

I loved Life After Life, but I can tell from reading other posters here that the book is not for everyone. I loved reading about all the possible incarnations of Ursula depending on external circumstances. I especially liked the sections of the book dealing with the difference between her life in England and her life in Germany during World War 2.

But I've given up on relying on best book lists anyway. One list I read included Bleeding Edge as a best book of the year and I struggled to make it through Chapter 3 before I gave up on it.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll read another 2 chapters and see if it holds my interest.

Uh, oh. Life After Life is my library book club's April selection. After reading its summary, I would not have selected it. But I'll let you know how it goes for me when I start reading it.

I PTB on Life after Life - I read halfway through, make it skim halfway through. Still didn't hold my interest. Since you have to read it, I hope you do enjoy it.