Marquest
Senior Member
- Location
- Bay Area CA
I really loved Nightingale. Was The Great Alone the one in Alaska? Bc I didn't like that one, about domestic violence which is on my list of no-more-books-about!
Books! How do you read and what do you read?
- Thread starter Keesha
- Start date
CinnamonSugar
A Quiet American
I read the synopsis of "The Great Alone" and I'm like you, @Marquest, I put that one back on the shelf for the same reason.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Interesting. The Great Alone is in my top three faves by her, mostly because of the protagonist's relationship with people outside her family and the coping required to make it in the Alaskan wilderness.
Marquest
Senior Member
- Location
- Bay Area CA
@CinnamonSugar I admit The Great Alone was a compelling novel, after all I kept reading to the end. It's just that I used to work at a domestic violence shelter, and don't want to read anything more on that subject. Others I usually avoid: slavery, and the Holocaust. Bc I've already read a million books on those subjects and don't feel like I need to learn about them anymore, plus they are so painful.
CinnamonSugar
A Quiet American
This was *really* good (tense, gripping, well-written). I had a hard time putting it down. And it’s the authors 2nd book—I’m going to go find the other one tomorrow !
BJintheUK
New Member
- Location
- Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, UK
Many years ago, back when I was just turning from a teenager into an adult, I read the first two books of the Gormenghast trilogy. Even today I still tend to think of these books as having the best usage of the English language I've ever come across. Some of the author's phrases were just magical to read, and stayed with me for a very long time.
I now have a compendium of all three books in one large paperback, and I keep meaning to reread it, but I know that once I start, I'll not stop till I've read and absorbed every word of all three books, so I tend to look at the cover and walk on past as I still have lots of other things to keep me busy.
The books document the early life story of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Groan and his time growing up in Gormenghast castle. The first two books were called 'Titus Groan', and 'Gormenghast', the third book in the series is quite different, as it has Titus going out into a bizarre world and it's entitled 'Titus Alone'.
The author was Mervyn Peake. A man who was an illustrator by trade, but who had a fantastic imagination. Sadly, he slowly became more and more ill with Parkinson's disease and unable to properly edit the book. As such, the first edition of the third book, 'Titus Alone', was published by the publishers in a rather poor state, and only later, after Peake's death was it finally revised and edited from Peake's original handwritten manuscript and notes.
I now have a compendium of all three books in one large paperback, and I keep meaning to reread it, but I know that once I start, I'll not stop till I've read and absorbed every word of all three books, so I tend to look at the cover and walk on past as I still have lots of other things to keep me busy.
The books document the early life story of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Groan and his time growing up in Gormenghast castle. The first two books were called 'Titus Groan', and 'Gormenghast', the third book in the series is quite different, as it has Titus going out into a bizarre world and it's entitled 'Titus Alone'.
The author was Mervyn Peake. A man who was an illustrator by trade, but who had a fantastic imagination. Sadly, he slowly became more and more ill with Parkinson's disease and unable to properly edit the book. As such, the first edition of the third book, 'Titus Alone', was published by the publishers in a rather poor state, and only later, after Peake's death was it finally revised and edited from Peake's original handwritten manuscript and notes.
spectratg
Senior Member
- Location
- Adamstown, MD
Our book club last month read the "Secret Life of Sunflowers," how Vincent Van Goughs sister in law saved his paintings. Quite good actually. Now we are reading "The Wedding People." I'm about 1/3 through, not impressed so far.
gamboolman
Member
- Location
- Spring, Texas
I am just a couple chapters into the follow on book from Eugene Sledges son, Henry, on Eugene Sledges book on WW2 - With The Old Breed.
Henry had access to the original 800 + pages of the original manuscript for The Old Breed.
The book from his son has excerpts from the original manuscripts in Bold.
For WW2 history buffs and for folks who had relatives who fought the Japanese this is interesting.
My Uncle is pictured next to my Mother and Grandfather in East Texas after my Uncle got back from fighting the Japanese in the Pacific during WW2. A tough man who went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam. Rest in peace Uncle Houston.
Do recommend.
Henry had access to the original 800 + pages of the original manuscript for The Old Breed.
The book from his son has excerpts from the original manuscripts in Bold.
For WW2 history buffs and for folks who had relatives who fought the Japanese this is interesting.
My Uncle is pictured next to my Mother and Grandfather in East Texas after my Uncle got back from fighting the Japanese in the Pacific during WW2. A tough man who went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam. Rest in peace Uncle Houston.
Do recommend.
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Mitch86
Member
- Location
- Connecticut, USA
Currently I'm listening to the audiobook called, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich." It is a fascinating history of the Nazi Germany Third Reich led by my favorite villain, Adolf Hitler. It's tragic about what he did to the European Jews and how many millions had to die in WW 2 to defeat him.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
I LOVE Jane Harper's novels! She's written five and her next is due out in 2026.
Pam
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cumbria, England.
Me too! I 'follow' her on Facebook and when I read that her new book had been released I was going to order it from the library.... then I read her post again and realised that it had been released in Australia and not the UK. That should teach me to read things properly the first time. I will just have to be patient and wait until next year.
Tish
SF VIP
- Location
- Rural N.S.W. Australia
Nobody's Girl - Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Just got it, can't wait to read it.
Just got it, can't wait to read it.
I love reading. I read every night for about two hours before I go to sleep. For awhile now, I've been enjoying reading cozy mysteries. I like a good mystery but am turned off to lots of violence in books and movies. So cozy mysteries work for me. The stories are good, the mysteries are interesting and most importantly, the violence is minimal.
Tommy
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
I enjoy cozy mysteries. Do you have a favorite author or series?
My favorite authors are Lorna Barrett, Lauren Elliott and Ellery Adams.
Who are your favorite authors?
Tommy
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
I really enjoyed M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series. About 35 books as I recall. Contemporary and set in northern Scotland, I found the characters engaging and the plots uncomplicated. Easy, cozy reading.
A while back, our own @CinnamonSugar on this forum suggested Charles Finch's Charles Lenox series (16 books). Set in 19th Century England, these are richer and require a bit more effort but I found them absolutely fascinating and well worth the effort. They've been promising a 17th book for several years now but keep delaying publication.
A while back, our own @CinnamonSugar on this forum suggested Charles Finch's Charles Lenox series (16 books). Set in 19th Century England, these are richer and require a bit more effort but I found them absolutely fascinating and well worth the effort. They've been promising a 17th book for several years now but keep delaying publication.
Thanks for sharing that. I was at Barnes and Noble the other day and was amazed the rows and rows of cozy mysteries out there! So many books and authors to choose from!
moviequeen1
SF VIP
- Location
- Buffalo,NY
The book I started reading 2 days ago'Eruption' by late Michael Crichton& James Patterson. Critchon who sadly died in 2008 had written a partial manuscript, very detailed with notes. His widow, Sherri found it took her 10 yrs until she found the perfect partner to complete the book.
This book is a thriller how scientists& others try to stop one of Hawaii's volcanos from destroying everything in sight. I'm a big James Patterson fan this book has me hooked Its 419 pgs, can't put it down
This book is a thriller how scientists& others try to stop one of Hawaii's volcanos from destroying everything in sight. I'm a big James Patterson fan this book has me hooked Its 419 pgs, can't put it down
It sounds good. JP writes books so easily and always seem to be best sellers.
StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Good to know. I'll be interested in reading what you think of it.
moviequeen1
SF VIP
- Location
- Buffalo,NY
Last night finished reading' Eruption' by Michael Critchton& James Patterson
I enjoyed it,fast paced thriller couldn't; put down
I enjoyed it,fast paced thriller couldn't; put down
MountainRa
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate SC, USA
I watched Hamish Macbeth on Netflix, I think , and throughly enjoyed it. But until now I didn’t realize it is a book series.
PeppermintPatty
🐢. 🐳. 🐢
- Location
- Canada
I’m currently reading a Joyce Meyers book called “Overcoming Every Problem!’
