Have you read a good book lately? Was it light reading or a challange? Give a brief description of what the book was about.
i know this is an old post but i'd like to share what i've been reading. i realize that some of these books may be considered child's play, but i had never read them and wanted to take the chance to read them while i could.
here goes:
the chronicles of narnia series
*not a challenge but a really great read
the hobbit/lord of the rings series
*great books, but slow
Ines of my soul, Isabelle Alende
*not a challenge, but one of the greatest books i've ever read. really good writing.
Shogun, James Clavell
*My favorite book of all time. Excellent writing, description, story, everything.
Drown, Junot Diaz
*my formerly favorite book. really gritty and real. very relatable.
like i said, i know this is an old post, but when you read a good book you can't help but want to talk about it and share it with other readers.
thanks
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hi charlie, i read the hobbit and LOTR a long time ago.
good books. i have heard good things about shogun. can you tell me more about it?
Reply to this Old topic but I couldnt help but tell the world about the Book of Awesome.
I picked it up in Makassar at the airport bookstore and thought ok this should get me through the flight and found I couldnt put it down. Its one of those easy to read great for travelling books. Its about the little awesome things in life that we take for granted and remembering to acknowledge them. Things like -
Bakery air - hot fresh rolls when the bakery opens
When another driver flashes his lights to let you know theres a cop up ahead.
Hearing someone laugh in their sleep
Track pants, because, theyre an old familiar friend.
So many more little things that will make you smile. I ended up having the book shared around while on Bunakin with the staff and guests...it really is AWESOME.
If you find it for 150,000 rupes or however many dong on your travels - grab it, it will make you smile.
There is also a book of holiday awesome which I have on order..hoping theres a few good travel anecdotes in there.
Neil Pasricha is the author 😊
Reply to this Has anyone read the true accounts, by Jennifer Worth, who was a nurse and midwife to London east enders, in the 1950s?
I am currently reading 'Call the Midwife', by Jennifer Worth and am astonished by the miserable poverty people managed to survive in the 1800s and early 1900s in London, England. Makes me wonder why so many insist on glorifying the good old days.
Reply to this astonished by the miserable poverty people managed to survive in the 1800s and early 1900s in London, England. Makes me wonder why so many insist on glorifying the good old days.
‘A combination of disillusion about the here and now with illusion about the there and then’.
...The past is a foreign country... The grass is always greener...ignorance is bliss...and other clichés.
Reply to this I am currently reading 'Shadows of the Workhouse', also by Jennifer Worth who wrote 'Call the Midwife'. I recommend both of these books. They are an eye opener for those interested in knowing more about womens issues and poverty in general, in late 1800s and first half of 1900s in England.
But, judging from the way my boyfriend talks, the writing style might appeal only to women, because as well as the historical facts, it includes a lot of personal stories and experiences by the writer. My boyfriend tends to not be able to get past the first chapter of those types of book, whereas I find them fascinating, because it is people and how history and social issues effect them and those they encounter that makes these issues matter, in my opinion.
Reply to this I am now in the middle of reading 'Welocme to Paradise' by Mahi Binebine.
It is about the extraordinary risks and expense African migrants go to, to be smuggled illegally into Europe. When it costs so much, and they could be thrown out of Europe any time for being illegal and they can only get illegal work, is it really worth the risk and expense. Surely, the few thousand Euros they pay the smugglers would go a long way, in the African villages they come from, unless they are fleeing war or another risk to their lives?
And, then there is the disturbing dream the European Deportee in the book has. It could teach us all a lesson about chasing after materialism too much...
Reply to this 'The Secret River' by Kate Grenville.
It is about convicts being shipped to Australia at the beginning of the 1800s.
They arrived to pretty much pristine nature, which many travellers these days would wish they could see. But, the taint of being a convict and being forced to carve out a living in the wilds of 1800s Australia took away the pleasure of the purity of the place.
Reply to this Just finished reading Boom! The Sixties by Tom Brokaw.
It is a detailed look at the 60's in America, who influenced them and a look at how those turbulent times have impacted the U.S. and the world today. An interesting read especially with the election just around the corner.
Reply to this I love reading and even more so when I am on holidays. Yesterday I went in search of a good book and found 'Secret Daughter' by Shilpi Somaya Gowda.
The story revolves around the life of two families - one in India who gives their daughter away to an Orphanage and the other family who adopts the girl and brings her home to live with them in America. The story follows their lives over the next 25 or so years.
So good I finished it within a day! Hmmm, maybe I need to trawl back through this post for my next novel!
Reply to this I'm surprised this forum has no posts recently. I read constantly - especially when travelling. Where are the readers????
Just finished re-reading The Great Gatsby.
Before that - Questions of Travel (Michelle de Kretser).
And before that - The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger).
Need something to read these holidays, so I'll head off to the bookshop this weekend.
Also love to watch The First Tuesday Bookclub (ABC Australia) each month for ideas.
Reply to this We are constantly reading but I don't always post them here. Not sure why I forget about this forum thread. Since you are heading off to the bookshop I'll give you a couple of recommendations.
Recently finished Jack London's the Sea Wolf. It was very good.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
The President's Club by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy
Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba by Tom Gjelton
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
The Twentieth Wife by Indu Sundaresan
Happy reading.
I'd love some suggestions from you.
Reply to this Just started reading The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (a NZ author). A MASSIVE book at 832 pages but so far I am enthralled by the description of early NZ gold mining experiences!
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