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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 15:38:36 GMT
The Help was one of the few movies that didn't let me down in comparison to the book. There are usually scenes left out of the movie that I think were important, or the casting is wrong. IMHO . Although I would liked to have seen the scene with the flasher in the movie and it was missing.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 18:19:57 GMT
Well, there's no market for regencies anymore unless you write the big fat sexy ones. It's a shame in the case of writers like Karen Harbaugh, as she was one of the good ones, definitely one of my top five. Even when she dipped into the supernatural stuff it was still very firmly a regency novel. Karen was at the upper tier - very clear on history, passionate about good writing. she's always been interested in the supernatural and has done a lot of work in past lives theory, so her interest in this for writing is honest. she used to give tarot card readings on breaks in our little office - she's very hard-headed and open to other dimensions which is a great combination. yes, she was really very much a regency writer and knew a great deal about it. she was thinking that her style of writing had gone out as none of her work is being published any longer. she and i started writing at the same time - she did well and i completely failed - an essayist was the best i could do, despite her encouragement. not sure what she's doing now. It seems all her books are out on Kindle and she has a blog on Amazon but hasn't posted there for 6 months. I'm glad to hear she really was into supernatural things, I always felt she was because she did it before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. Chap, what about creative non-fiction? It might seem too sloppy to you after writing essays, but it could (IMO) do with some tightening up. Anyway, you can't say you "completely failed" when it comes to writing - it doesn't have a time or age limit like other pursuits do. And what's "completely failed" anyway? Were you blacklisted by the secret publishers' association and forbidden ever to write again?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 3:17:23 GMT
The Help was one of the few movies that didn't let me down in comparison to the book. There are usually scenes left out of the movie that I think were important, or the casting is wrong. IMHO . Although I would liked to have seen the scene with the flasher in the movie and it was missing. The Time Travelers Wife was like that. The book you really had to think about to keep straight (it sort of traveled around in time and space like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), the movie was soooooo dumbed down and overly simplified. Just bad.
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Post by allikat on Jan 25, 2015 4:03:40 GMT
I thought Time Traveler's Wife book was good but the movie was horrible. A friend and I made a night of it to watch it when it first came out on DVD, the first thing I said to her when it was over was "that is 2 hours of my life I will never get back" lol. Terrible. I really don't like to see movies from books that I have read because I have a vivid imagination and it is always better in my mind than on the screen.
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Post by mykidzmom2 on Jan 25, 2015 19:53:44 GMT
One of my favorite book series is the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fford. They are very unique, I don't even know if I can explain the genre! Not quite fantasy, not thriller - very, very clever, very entertaining. The series starts with The Eyre Affair. His other books are good, too.
Also, Connie Willis books are excellent - if you read The Doomsday Book first that's a good starter. The books are all sort of connected, time travel by historians to observe the past.
Laurie
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 25, 2015 22:24:13 GMT
Hey kritter, PM me your address. I'll mail you Gone Girl. I tried last night and just could not get into it. At. All.
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Post by titus730 on Jan 25, 2015 23:10:57 GMT
I am reading Chesapeake by James Michener. I live near and love the area so I thought I would take time to read his book. So far it is really good and an easy flowing read. I love historical fiction and nonfiction. I need to make time to read him and Pearl S. Buck since both authors are local to my area. Pearl Buck's home is lovely and the Michener Museum has a recreation of his study I believe. I've seen where they wrote, I should read what they wrote. James Michener has been a favorite author of mine for years. His books are so well researched. I've read so many but my favorites are The Drifters, The Source and Caravans.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Jan 25, 2015 23:58:37 GMT
Hey kritter, PM me your address. I'll mail you Gone Girl. I tried last night and just could not get into it. At. All. OK, Let me know how much the postage is.
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Post by allikat on Jan 26, 2015 2:30:08 GMT
I need to make time to read him and Pearl S. Buck since both authors are local to my area. Pearl Buck's home is lovely and the Michener Museum has a recreation of his study I believe. I've seen where they wrote, I should read what they wrote. James Michener has been a favorite author of mine for years. His books are so well researched. I've read so many but my favorites are The Drifters, The Source and Caravans.
I will keep those in mind once I finish Chesapeake. Thanks for the recommendations.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 13:39:26 GMT
I am almost finished "Big Little Lies" by Liane Moriarity - Great fun read! Next up with be "Girl on a Train"
Zoe - Mike and I Love Aerosmith so I will definitely be putting that on my list. Should be very interesting.
I too like Michael Palmer books. I just don't like to read a certain author over and over. I like to jump around.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Jan 26, 2015 17:48:45 GMT
I hit on a certain author and then read everything that they wrote.
I think I have read Moriarity but will have to check.
I thought I had not read Gone Girl but when I read the Summary on the library website last night, it came back to me.
Getting old is a real bitch.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 2:37:09 GMT
There is a new book out called "Girl on a Train" that is getting a lot of hype. It's on my wish list of a thriller type of book.
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Post by treetop on Jan 27, 2015 20:58:49 GMT
This one is a few years old, but if you've never read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, I highly recommend it. It is the story of a family as told through the point of view of the dog.
I recently read a few by JoJo Moyes. I particularly loved Me Before You.
As far as mystery/thriller authors, I really love Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder series. Linwood Barclay is really good.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 9:02:59 GMT
I could never get into Matt Scudder but I love Lawrence Block's Hit Man books and especially the Burglar books. So funny.
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Post by treetop on Jan 30, 2015 21:31:02 GMT
I could never get into Matt Scudder but I love Lawrence Block's Hit Man books and especially the Burglar books. So funny. I couldn't get into the Hit Man books, but I did like the Burglar books. I really love the older Matt Scudder ones. I've really liked several of Dennis Lehanes, but I hated Shutter Island. I recently finished Live by Night. It was so/so. It kept my attention, but it just didn't grab me. If you like Brittish chick lit (think Bridget Jones, Shopaholic), I recommend Marian Keyes (I guess more Irish chick lit). One of my favorite thriller type books was Scott Smith's A Simple Plan. The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton is very good; I've liked his other books, too. I can't speak highly enough about Lisa Lutz's Spellman series. Very sarcastic with a lot of snappy dialog. To me, much funnier than the Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum books (although I really liked the first few of those). Sue Grafton is another favorite author. I like lighter mystery/detective books as I tend to read in short spurts here and there and easily lose track of heavier plots. I read the first few chapters of The Time Traveler's Wife and gave up because I was getting so confused trying to follow them.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 31, 2015 0:26:01 GMT
Alex Kava. I've read two of her Maggie O'Dell books (FBI profiler), and started one that is a stand alone, not related to her series books. Quite good so far.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 13:44:22 GMT
I find it funny/interesting how some people can absolutely love a book and others are like meh. I've really liked several of Dennis Lehanes, but I hated Shutter Island. I recently finished Live by Night. It was so/so. It kept my attention, but it just didn't grab me. If you like Brittish chick lit (think Bridget Jones, Shopaholic), I recommend Marian Keyes (I guess more Irish chick lit). One of my favorite thriller type books was Scott Smith's A Simple Plan. The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton is very good; I've liked his other books, too. I can't speak highly enough about Lisa Lutz's Spellman series. Very sarcastic with a lot of snappy dialog. To me, much funnier than the Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum books (although I really liked the first few of those). Sue Grafton is another favorite author. I like lighter mystery/detective books as I tend to read in short spurts here and there and easily lose track of heavier plots. I read the first few chapters of The Time Traveler's Wife and gave up because I was getting so confused trying to follow them. I LOVED A Simple Plan. LOVED IT. And yet I did not like the Spellman series. I read the first 4 in the series. The first one wasn't too bad but for me it lacked. Can't put my finger on it but...IDK so much of it just frustrated the hell out of me. By the fourth I was pretty much forcing myself to just finish the damn book. If you like quirky and funny and get in trouble females try the 3 book Bobbie Faye series by Toni McGee Causey. LOVED IT. I wish she would continue her series. It's hillarious. She's a little more bad assed than Stephanie Plum and the situations she gets herself into.....OMG. And Marian Keyes is funny. She has a quirky writing style. I love how she has a book on each sister. I enjoy her writing style. Alex Kava. I've read two of her Maggie O'Dell books (FBI profiler), and started one that is a stand alone, not related to her series books. Quite good so far. It is so funny you would bring this up. I JUST as in yesterday finished the 4th book she wrote. I read the first three and was really enjoying her writing. Her books are easy, quick reads. I then read her fouth book and I guess I assumed it would still have Maggie in it. I personally was a little meh on this one. I THINK had I read it alone before I started the Maggie O'dell series I would have liked it but as it was I was left a little let down.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 15:49:20 GMT
Funny, I loved Shutter Island, he writes great books!
I just started "girl on a train" - I know it's going to be a great read.
Big Little Lies had fab ending.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 31, 2015 17:37:51 GMT
Harley, the one I'm reading right now is White Wash. There are a lot of characters and story lines in the beginning, but I'm a little over 1/4 through it and the story lines are beginning to merge. It's pretty good, but then it's also written about a subject that I like.
UPDATE: finished it, VERY good book. Nice twists at the end when she ties all the story lines together. Not a fast read, but still very good.
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Post by atdahop on Jan 31, 2015 22:08:24 GMT
Just finished The Pact and I have to say that it left me wanting. Not that crazy about it.
Val, like you I tried Gone Girl and could never get into the book so I gave up. Beach Music was another that I could never get into.
Anyone read Barbara Delinsky? I like her books.
Usually I find an author and then I read all of their books. Stuart Wood is one of them, especially the Stone Barrington series.
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Post by titus730 on Jan 31, 2015 23:10:58 GMT
I hit on a certain author and then read everything that they wrote. Kritter, I do the same thing which is why my book shelves are filled with books by Barbara Holland, Bill Bryson and E.F Benson. And I'll keep reading their books until they start resting on their laurels and the books suffer. This happened with both Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell. I'm still reading the thrillers of Jeffrey Deaver (The Bone Collector). I bought a lot of his paperbacks on eBay.
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Post by treetop on Feb 1, 2015 0:01:06 GMT
I thought of another that I really liked: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Feb 1, 2015 0:40:29 GMT
I hit on a certain author and then read everything that they wrote. Kritter, I do the same thing which is why my book shelves are filled with books by Barbara Holland, Bill Bryson and E.F Benson. And I'll keep reading their books until they start resting on their laurels and the books suffer. This happened with both Sue Grafton and Patricia Cornwell. I'm still reading the thrillers of Jeffrey Deaver (The Bone Collector). I bought a lot of his paperbacks on eBay.
I have been using the library for books. Don't need to be starting any more book collections at this stage of life. I have vowed to move things out of this house without filling their space with new stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 17:15:59 GMT
For the last few years I have been reading mostly on kindle. I have the paperwhite and getting old my eyesight is going. The kindle lighting is perfect and I can increase the font. I hate though not being able to pass them along to others.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Feb 3, 2015 1:17:25 GMT
And I'll keep reading their books until they start resting on their laurels and the books suffer.
Stuart Woods did this a couple of years ago, it's like he texted his editor and said change the cities and rename the bad guy, and ta-da book was done. Sucked. The last two releases, though, are good - old style Stuart Woods and Stone Barrington. I especially like his kid and the muck-up looser turned lottery winner turned lawyer. Forget his name but he's a hoot.
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Post by atdahop on Feb 3, 2015 1:53:56 GMT
And I'll keep reading their books until they start resting on their laurels and the books suffer. Stuart Woods did this a couple of years ago, it's like he texted his editor and said change the cities and rename the bad guy, and ta-da book was done. Sucked. The last two releases, though, are good - old style Stuart Woods and Stone Barrington. I especially like his kid and the muck-up looser turned lottery winner turned lawyer. Forget his name but he's a hoot. Herbie Fisher is the name of the lottery winner turned lawyer..I agree he is a hoot.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Feb 3, 2015 3:34:54 GMT
Herbie! Thanks! I like the direction Woods has taken that character.
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Post by SA on Feb 14, 2015 17:15:21 GMT
OK. I caved. I wanted a quick read and I hate jumping on "bandwagons" but I did.
I downloaded 50 shades of grey. I finished it in 2.5 days. Then downloaded the second book. I.COULDN'T.PUT.IT.DOWN.
And I have no plans on seeing the movie.
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Post by allikat on Feb 14, 2015 20:48:17 GMT
There is a third one also, lol. Enjoy... they were like bag of chips reading can stop until you get to the end.
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Post by SA on Feb 14, 2015 20:57:36 GMT
I KNOW! I'm about 25% done with the second book and have already downloaded the 3rd. You know, to get me thru the weekend! I find myself biting my lip. A LOT
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