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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 2:42:38 GMT
So now I'm reading Elizabeth Daly's detective novels. Well, I've just read the first one, "Unexpected Night". She published 16 books 1940-1951.
After being immersed in the English 30s and 40s stuff for so long, it's very odd to be in 1940 with NO mention of the war, or black shirts or politics of any sort. Or the servant crisis. lol. I had this sense, the whole time, of "Don't you people know there's a war on?" But no, they didn't really. Which is kind of scary and sad in today's climate.
The detective is Henry Gamadge, a New York authenticator of olde manuscripts and books and stuff. That's really all I know about him from Book 1. I don't mind the author slowly unveiling the lead guy as she goes along. It's much better than spewing a lot of detail up-front and then betraying half of it later.
I investigated Daly because someone on the interwebz said the books are very English without being English. And I suppose they are. People speak to each other differently. Less tact. The working class is more confident in speaking up and slacking off.
But the most striking thing is the way alcohol is handled. In this book the characters frequently offer each other drinks, or tell each other they need a drink, but everyone is terribly restrained and not much drinking actually goes on. In all the English books I've been reading, nearly everyone upper-class must be wandering around tipsy all the time. The bottles of sherry they go through! If you pop in to see Mrs Morton at 10am about the church bazaar, have a sherry! Wine over lunch. Anyone who visits between lunch and tea gets sherry or whisky. Cocktails when you gather for dinner, wine with dinner, port after dinner for the men, followed by whisky and/or brandy. The youngsters have more gin, the older ladies might have more sherry. And they carry this on all through the war because someone, somewhere, always has a vast cellar, and gin is available on the black market.
Anyway I'll get some more Daly's and see how we go. Gamadge is likeable so far and I think he'll get better. The plot was quite chilling. I never try to guess the murderer, though of course I have suspicions about people. I think if you're the type of reader who does try to guess whodunit, you probably would in this book. But the details of the crime, you wouldn't guess those.
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Post by SA on Nov 12, 2017 10:25:04 GMT
I'm on book 23 of the Kay Scarpetta series from Patricia Cornwell. Nearly done listening to it on this trip, and have already downloaded book 24 to get me through the rest of the trip and a couple of picture taking marathon days.
I have been reading this series since I discovered it in 1994. LOVE it.
It's a lot of murder/mystery and forensic science.
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Post by SA on Apr 26, 2018 13:59:28 GMT
I need Patricia Cornwell to hurry up with her next book.
In the meantime, I downloaded and am reading (listening to) The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck". So far so good. I'm going to listen to it all, then I'm pretty sure I'll recommend this to every high school senior - 30 year old - or anyone that has anxiety LOL!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2018 15:59:29 GMT
I recently picked up a paperback at our library book sale:
More Things In Heaven And Earth by Jeff High
I loved it (as did DH) and I have since bought book #2 in the Watervalley series:
Each Shining Hour
Loved it too. Now to purchase book #3 of the series.
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Post by frakinfashion on May 27, 2018 15:58:41 GMT
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. Beautifully written, set during WWII in New York. You will get a glimpse of a world you haven't seen rather than the same old stuff that contemporary writers write about usually--no characters who are writers or who teach writing at the college level! Yay!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2018 2:04:48 GMT
I just finished listening to the audiobook of Nicholas Blake's "Smiler with the Knife". Most of his books are on youtube.
All the Blake books are about the amateur detective Nigel Strangeways. But in this one his wife, Georgia, takes the leading role. She's equipped for it, as "one of the century's finest travellers". I LOVED that she was never stupid or girly, even when scared and clueless about others around her. You know those books where you're endlessly told the heroine is smart, savvy and courageous and then she does dumb thing after dumb thing and doesn't recognise signs she should? I hate those. Sadly, they're mostly written by women.
It's written in 30s England, when a lot of aristocrats admired Hitler. They didn't want fascism, but they liked the way he "got things done". A lot of the middle class admired Hitler too, because he offered a stirring of the political pot.
Anyway, there's this famous businessman who has lately become political (not a politician, however) by suggesting a plan to get the unemployed into work and make the middle class more prosperous. His supporters are tired of beureaucracy and want stuff DONE.
Of course he really seeks to de-stabilise the nation and, when it's a shambles, modestly take over as First Guardian. His followers, apart from a few close associates, don't know this. They think it'll be a people's revolution. Neither do they know that he is getting help from "certain foreign powers".
lololol. Stop me if it's sounding familiar.
Georgia, as an intimate of Society and a famous woman, has to insinuate herself into the supporters' group and find stuff out. In order to do so, she has to first fake a separation from her husband, who's known to be on the side of law and order. Plus his uncle is Chief of Scotland Yard. She has a couple of chums in on it too, but they don't know any more than she does and aren't in any position to help if things get tough. The sense of being alone and clueless about the game is very chilling, the villain is really scary and the last bit of book is a wonderful chase across England.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2018 23:37:02 GMT
I just finished "Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows". Essentially, the Bollywood version of "50 shades of Grey" My kids got it for me for mother's day because I had just returned from India in April.
It was bad-but if anyone wants it I'll pass it along:)
It was fairly accurate with regard to Sikh culture and that was interesting-I visited a Sikh temple in Delhi; it's a fascinating religion and they actually serve a hot, freshly prepared melt up to 40k people on weekends. And irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or caste.Makes me wonder why people go hungry in this country. I got to make Chipati bread!
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Post by kat on Aug 21, 2018 4:22:11 GMT
I started reading The Mercedes Killer by Stephen King on one vacation and forgot to bring it with me when I went Open. I’m hoping to finish it soon. I stopped at a suspenseful part.
I picked up Girl Last Seen since I forgot the other book and got about 1/2 into it. It’s a great crime mystery. I just want an afternoon to lay in the sun and read, but I haven’t found any time. I can’t read at night or I fall asleep.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Aug 21, 2018 4:55:22 GMT
Oooo - bad Bollywood lol. We have loads of that here since we have a big Sikh community of long standing, including a cricket team. The movies crack me up - it'll be in the middle of some really serious scene and suddenly everybody busts out singing and dancing.
I've been reading Anne Swinden's Oxford Mystery series - they involve the adventures of an Oxford bookseller and friends, solving local crimes in the wake of the Death. Very enjoyable, not quite cozies, but really nice reads. I wish she'd write a few more.
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Post by frakinfashion on Aug 24, 2018 21:40:06 GMT
Unraveling Oliver -- a nice, nice read. Psychological, sometimes witty, lean and beautifully written. It's a Rashomon time structure where you get different characters talking about their take on things. Oliver is accused of badly beating his wife. Why? Read it and unravel him to find out. It's by an Irish author-- Liz Nugent.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Aug 25, 2018 21:36:18 GMT
Unraveling Oliver -- a nice, nice read. Psychological, sometimes witty, lean and beautifully written. It's a Rashomon time structure where you get different characters talking about their take on things. Oliver is accused of badly beating his wife. Why? Read it and unravel him to find out. It's by an Irish author-- Liz Nugent. Ye gawds, that was a good movie! I'll never forget Mifune's manic laughter, the wife's despair and the last scene of the woodcutter tucking the baby away to take it home. Ranks up there with Throne of Blood. Just an aside on your observation of truth and relativity.
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Post by SA on Aug 30, 2018 14:29:27 GMT
My deep, interesting, intelligent read (OK, I'm listening to it on audiobook) is:
The Knockoff
A 40 something fashion editor in chief getting pushed out of her magazine by the young tech crowd making her magazine an app. She knows she needs to get with the times to stay relevant - Twitter and Insta anyone?
Not done with it yet, but fun so far.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 1, 2018 4:10:45 GMT
I love audiobooks.
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Post by titus730 on Sept 20, 2018 0:20:38 GMT
Is anyone following the PBS The Great American Read? There are 100 favorite novels as voted on by viewers. Of those 100, I had only read 17. Of course some were series such as Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. But they only counted for one. There were books I'd read by authors included in the list but my favorite wasn't the one on the list. What surprised me were the inclusion of some eh, iffy?, novels such as 50 Shades of Grey. And the omission of some excellent novelists such as Anne Tyler and James Michener. I guess both have fallen out of popularity.
The question asked is what is your favorite novel? I have two but they aren't on the list. First is The Drifters by James Michener, a novel completely different from anything he wrote before. The second is The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carlton. It was her only novel. I read the Reader's Digest condensed version as a young teen and the memory remained so strong I ended up buying the paperback in 2009 and reading and enjoying it again.
What's your favorite novel?
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 20, 2018 4:08:30 GMT
I've read maybe half - most of the really recent novels I haven't because I don't care much about the subject matter. I think they did a good job on the list, though! 50 Shades was probably included because of the impact it had, but I can't imagine it being recommended for much else.
My favourite novel depended upon my age - I thought about it and I think it was Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke) in junior high Foundation Trilogy (Asimov) in senior high Siddhartha and Narnia tied in undergrad school Nothing in grad school because I was overwhelmed
Then Oliver Twist (Dickens) got trounced by Imperium by Robert Harris - dear GOD that man can write!
It's an interesting question, because I wonder how much a 'favourite' tends to reflect where we are in our own lives? Our interests, etc.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Sept 20, 2018 12:42:48 GMT
I've only read 21 of the books that are on that list. My favorite (The Hobbit) didn't make the list, unless you include it with the Lord of the Ring trilogy. I love Tolkien, Ray Bradbury, Tom Clancy, and George Orwell, when I get the chance to actually read a book.
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Post by Dawn R on Sept 21, 2018 10:15:44 GMT
I've read about 1/3 of the books. I love to read!
I Loved "Little Bee."
I lean toward murder mysteries/suspense, but also enjoy a lot of other genres. I also like Phillipa Gregory, Harlan Coban, Stephen King, etc.
I have Kindle Unlimited but find that it takes months for current novels to make it to free. I mostly used the local library and the on-line library.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 23, 2018 10:24:53 GMT
I have Kindle Unlimited, too - I'm content to wait for the most part, though when a new Cato and Macro novel comes out I get really impatient, along with a few other favourite authors. The DH gave me an initial 6-month membership along with a Kindle Paperwhite for Christmas - that thing is like my favourite object almost in the world. I've just continued the membership. For 9.99/mo it saves me loads of money because I go through so many books - I love to read, too!
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Post by titus730 on Sept 23, 2018 15:40:07 GMT
I have a Kindle Fire which has never been used. Now I think it might be too small for me to read books comfortably. Being a Prime member I get weekly emails offering books for .99 or free. Doing a bit of research I discovered one can have the books sent to a PC, table or laptop. Suits me.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 23, 2018 19:52:06 GMT
I have a Kindle Fire which has never been used. Now I think it might be too small for me to read books comfortably. Being a Prime member I get weekly emails offering books for .99 or free. Doing a bit of research I discovered one can have the books sent to a PC, table or laptop. Suits me. I have Kindle for PC, too. It is easier reading it on a larger device - I have my Paperwhite set at 6 point and you have to flip through pages kind of fast. I know someone older than I am who has Kindle on her smartphone - I just don't know how she does it, I'd be going blind trying.
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Post by treetop on Sept 30, 2018 1:45:25 GMT
I recently finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Really good read. It reminded me quite a bit of A Man Called Ove, a favorite of mine.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Sept 30, 2018 3:55:37 GMT
Is anyone following the PBS The Great American Read? There are 100 favorite novels as voted on by viewers. Of those 100, I had only read 17. Of course some were series such as Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia. But they only counted for one. There were books I'd read by authors included in the list but my favorite wasn't the one on the list. What surprised me were the inclusion of some eh, iffy?, novels such as 50 Shades of Grey. And the omission of some excellent novelists such as Anne Tyler and James Michener. I guess both have fallen out of popularity. I've read 39 of them at some point in my life. My mom and dad were big on me reading the "classics" as a kid. If I had to pick a favorite from the PBS list, it would be either the Alex Cross series (my adult choice) or the Chronicles of Narnia (my choice as a kid ). I remember reading "Catcher In The Rye" in high school. It was on our banned book list (my dad encouraged me to read every book on that list, LOL). I never did see what was so bad in the book that my school wanted to ban it.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Sept 30, 2018 5:17:31 GMT
I thought Catcher in the Rye was kind of, heh, "flitty" - I was presented with a copy by my beloved uncle on my 30th birthday (I had read it in high school) and thanked him sincerely for it, and flipped through it to see if it was any better, but, no - still it's the thought that counts. Lord of the Flies was supposed to be a great thing but all I thought was "Eh, so what's new - a lot of boys are horrible creatures until they grow out of it."
We passed Lady Chatterly's lover around in high school - locker to locker - I thought it was boring. I liked reading military warfare books and chronicles, plus science fiction. We were encouraged to read banned books, also- your dad did well! Basically, one must be exposed to the entire world of ideas or one never develops discernment and a sense of both appreciation and skepticism. Kids shouldn't be raised in a bell jar.
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Post by titus730 on Sept 30, 2018 16:00:53 GMT
My mother was the censor in my family. Dad didn't care. He and I used to swap books which is how I became a fan of James Michener and Wilbur Smith. Mom though, damn. She saw the summer reading list for incoming seniors and had a fit because Lady Chatterley's Lover was on it. I was reading Last Summer by Evan Hunter and she took it from me and threw it out because there was a rape scene. One of the problems with censoring is it makes me want to read the offensive book even more. She didn't want my to read Rosemary's Baby. So I would fetch the book from her nightstand while she was a work and read it in the upstairs hallway, lol.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Oct 1, 2018 1:22:25 GMT
My mother probably would have been the censor of the family - like anything could be scarier than she could be. But since it was mostly my dad he encouraged me to read anything I wanted, but if I had any questions or felt disturbed, we were to discuss it. His feeling was that although it's important to be aware of what kids are doing and seeing, the public banning books was simply another form of tyranny.
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Post by frakinfashion on Jan 26, 2019 18:48:40 GMT
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman What a great book! Incredibly well written and with wit! chapeaunoir and @misspettigrew I thought of you two reading this as we hear this woman's observations. I think you will love it as much as I did. It is now one of my all time favorites. I know, I can't believe it either. But this girl can really write!
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Post by Tabby on Apr 13, 2019 15:49:09 GMT
"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens --- This is the best book I've read in a long time. It's her first novel, but she's written award-winning nonfiction about her life as a wildlife scientist. There were over a hundred people on the library waiting list for this when I signed up. The librarian actually said, "Congratulations! It's finally your turn."
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on Apr 13, 2019 16:34:10 GMT
Just checked my library on Tabby's book suggestion..
234 holds on first copy returned of 92 copies
On the large print..
128 holds on first copy returned of 32 copies
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Post by Tabby on Apr 13, 2019 16:41:05 GMT
It's worth the wait....
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Post by Tabby on Jan 9, 2020 17:29:42 GMT
I just finished The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and really enjoyed it. The title is actually kind of random - it's not about Dutch people, but about a very grand house and all of the people who ended up connected to each other because of it. I got to know those characters so well that I feel like I'm going to miss them...
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