I read this in August 2011
Why: one of those I must get round to reading that books! my first downloaded ebook on my smartphone.
I'm really glad to finally have got round to reading this. Excellent story, well written, really evocks the era.
I really enjoyed reading it and having it with me where ever I went so I could read it in small chunks.
Must get some more FSF to read.
Have you read this one? if so, let k=me know what you thought of it
9/10
Monday 29 August 2011
The Last Demon by Isaac Bashevis Singer
I read this : August 2011
Why: I have previously read The Slave and loved it so when I saw this I couldn't resist.
This is part of the Penguin Modern Classics series a small book with 3 stories The Last Demon, very magical realism/religious. Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, which must be the basis for the film Yentl although I have not seen it - very good. The Cafeteria, a really enjoyable sad, remorseful, hopeful story. I loved all three - have you read any of these? Let me know what you think
Helen
9/10
Why: I have previously read The Slave and loved it so when I saw this I couldn't resist.
This is part of the Penguin Modern Classics series a small book with 3 stories The Last Demon, very magical realism/religious. Yentl the Yeshiva Boy, which must be the basis for the film Yentl although I have not seen it - very good. The Cafeteria, a really enjoyable sad, remorseful, hopeful story. I loved all three - have you read any of these? Let me know what you think
Helen
9/10
Saturday 20 August 2011
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
I read this in August 2011
It is the October book for Waterstones Book Club, Arc Bury St Edmunds
I must first say that I'm not much of a Bennett fan, I'm sure he's witty and charming in real life but his work comes across for me as a bit of a trying too hard to be humourous, grumpy old mannish.
This is a long short story or a short novel, shall we call it a novella? I don't know, I found it well written, but frankly unbelievable (and love magical realism!) and unentertaining... sorry to all the Bennett fans out there.
I also borrowed the spoken word CD which ran for 2 3/4 hours, at one stage I left it playing and went upstairs for a shower, that's how interesting it was.
But, when I started Book Club I decided come Hell or Highwater I would read the books, and I have if only so that I can vote
4/10 for me on this one.
Have you read this book? what did you think of it?
Let me know,
Helen
It is the October book for Waterstones Book Club, Arc Bury St Edmunds
I must first say that I'm not much of a Bennett fan, I'm sure he's witty and charming in real life but his work comes across for me as a bit of a trying too hard to be humourous, grumpy old mannish.
This is a long short story or a short novel, shall we call it a novella? I don't know, I found it well written, but frankly unbelievable (and love magical realism!) and unentertaining... sorry to all the Bennett fans out there.
I also borrowed the spoken word CD which ran for 2 3/4 hours, at one stage I left it playing and went upstairs for a shower, that's how interesting it was.
But, when I started Book Club I decided come Hell or Highwater I would read the books, and I have if only so that I can vote
4/10 for me on this one.
Have you read this book? what did you think of it?
Let me know,
Helen
Sunday 14 August 2011
Lucky by Alice Sebold
I read this book August 2011
From the author of the Lovely Bones (which I found very harrowing)
This is the true story of her rape and assault when she was at University
A harrowing tale, written in a straight forward no nonsense way.
I'm glad I found this (in a National Trust second hand book shop)
A good read
9/10
Have you read this? let me know what you think of it
Helen
From the author of the Lovely Bones (which I found very harrowing)
This is the true story of her rape and assault when she was at University
A harrowing tale, written in a straight forward no nonsense way.
I'm glad I found this (in a National Trust second hand book shop)
A good read
9/10
Have you read this? let me know what you think of it
Helen
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I read this August 2011
A story with a real twist. The title is a bit like a romance novel, this is anything but!
I won't spoil it but it concentrates on pupils at a school who are bred for a reason.
Chilling, but I won't say thrilling.
Must get a copy of the film...
7/10
have you read this book? if so let me know what you thought of it
Helen
A story with a real twist. The title is a bit like a romance novel, this is anything but!
I won't spoil it but it concentrates on pupils at a school who are bred for a reason.
Chilling, but I won't say thrilling.
Must get a copy of the film...
7/10
have you read this book? if so let me know what you thought of it
Helen
notwithstanding by Louis de Bernieres
I read this book July 2011
I love LdB - I confess a bias. I have read loads of his work and never been disappointed. I think his whole style suits my reading preferences.
This is a collection of short stories that stand alone, yet are all centered around the events/people of the village of Notwithstanding. set at different times and using different genres. I really liked the idea of this way of bringing a collection together. I must say here that I have been working on a set of stories centered around a sheltered housing complex and had thought of this long before I read this. I am recording this to remind myself that I wasn't influenced...
Back to the book, entertaining, witty, sad, funny in turns.
A throughly good read as always with LdB
9/10
Have you read this book? what did you think of it, let me know
Helen
I love LdB - I confess a bias. I have read loads of his work and never been disappointed. I think his whole style suits my reading preferences.
This is a collection of short stories that stand alone, yet are all centered around the events/people of the village of Notwithstanding. set at different times and using different genres. I really liked the idea of this way of bringing a collection together. I must say here that I have been working on a set of stories centered around a sheltered housing complex and had thought of this long before I read this. I am recording this to remind myself that I wasn't influenced...
Back to the book, entertaining, witty, sad, funny in turns.
A throughly good read as always with LdB
9/10
Have you read this book? what did you think of it, let me know
Helen
The Hare with Amber Eyes
I read this in July 2011
I read this as part of the Waterstone's Book Club. I think I may even have voted to read it!
How disappointing can a book be? This book reminded me of why I don't usually read biographies from choice. It was too 'listy' for my liking, it seemed , to me, to have long drawn out sections of uninteresting details and then to skim over the bits I would have wanted to read more on. Is this because a piece of non-fiction has to be that? I don't know, I just prefer writers to be able to 'fill in the gaps'
Strangely the cover also had an odd texture which I didn't like, sort of waxy.
Well enough said on this one, a potentially interesting book that I just could not get into.
Unfortunately a 2/10
Have you read this book, tell me what you thought of it
Helen
I read this as part of the Waterstone's Book Club. I think I may even have voted to read it!
How disappointing can a book be? This book reminded me of why I don't usually read biographies from choice. It was too 'listy' for my liking, it seemed , to me, to have long drawn out sections of uninteresting details and then to skim over the bits I would have wanted to read more on. Is this because a piece of non-fiction has to be that? I don't know, I just prefer writers to be able to 'fill in the gaps'
Strangely the cover also had an odd texture which I didn't like, sort of waxy.
Well enough said on this one, a potentially interesting book that I just could not get into.
Unfortunately a 2/10
Have you read this book, tell me what you thought of it
Helen
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
I read this in July 2011
This book was passed onto me by Julie and had it not been for that I would have completely missed out on reading this one as it really didn't appeal very much. What a treat I would have missed though. An episcopal novel (written as letters) it is a tale of the time when Guernsey was under german occupation in WWII. Many years ago I recall hearing that the children had been taken off the island and not returned for 5 years, but this novel really brought it home to me what that could be like. The hardships endured by the Islanders, the POWs and the Germans came to life. The story is lively, not overly sentimental and funny...how life goes one no matter what
I really enjoyed this quick, light read
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you think of it
Helen
This book was passed onto me by Julie and had it not been for that I would have completely missed out on reading this one as it really didn't appeal very much. What a treat I would have missed though. An episcopal novel (written as letters) it is a tale of the time when Guernsey was under german occupation in WWII. Many years ago I recall hearing that the children had been taken off the island and not returned for 5 years, but this novel really brought it home to me what that could be like. The hardships endured by the Islanders, the POWs and the Germans came to life. The story is lively, not overly sentimental and funny...how life goes one no matter what
I really enjoyed this quick, light read
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you think of it
Helen
Gladys Aylward By R.O. Latham
read this book in June 2011
I bought this little book as past of a job lot at a fair - and took it to our Condo in Florida for guests to read if they wished. I picked it uo when we were holidaying as a bit of light reading.
The Story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China who took a group of children across the mountains to safelty when the Japanese army invaded China in WWII - filmed as Inn of the Sixth Happiness
A sweet little book, telling an interesting story of faith and heroism.
7/10
Have you read this book? if so what did you think of it?
Helen
I bought this little book as past of a job lot at a fair - and took it to our Condo in Florida for guests to read if they wished. I picked it uo when we were holidaying as a bit of light reading.
The Story of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China who took a group of children across the mountains to safelty when the Japanese army invaded China in WWII - filmed as Inn of the Sixth Happiness
A sweet little book, telling an interesting story of faith and heroism.
7/10
Have you read this book? if so what did you think of it?
Helen
Last Known Victim by Erica Spindler
I read this book in June 2011
This book was left by a guest at our Florida condo. I wanted a bit of light reading during my holiday.
Very interesting detective story set in post Katrina New Orleans - a serial murder and family issues all rolled into one. A good holiday read.
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you thought of it.
Helen
This book was left by a guest at our Florida condo. I wanted a bit of light reading during my holiday.
Very interesting detective story set in post Katrina New Orleans - a serial murder and family issues all rolled into one. A good holiday read.
8/10
Have you read this book? let me know what you thought of it.
Helen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)