Goodreads Ireland discussion

It is really Pretty and has pictures of Chalk Men the spin of the version I have. Total cover buy - but anyone I know who has already read it is giving it 4/5 stars.

Maria I think Kara bought that but I think it has a red cover . I'll let you know how Ready Player One is so far it's good

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware.

Maria wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I'm starting Ready Player One . I think the movie comes out in March"

I picked that up and put it down in the bookshop about an hour ago. I decided it was so popular..."

I loved this book. I gave it 5 stars. I hope it works for you.

Susan wrote: "Maria wrote: "Colleen wrote: "I'm starting Ready Player One . I think the movie comes out in March"

I picked that up and put it down in the bookshop about an hour ago. I decided it ..."

I am sure it will - all I need is the time to read it!

Ah, yes. That's the rub.

If you like those Alan Garner titles, I strongly recommend Elidor and The Owl Service. The latter is one of the best English-language novels of the 20th Century, in my opinion.

I am almost finished with the first volume of an 1884 "triple-decker", The Chronicles Of Castle Cloyne by Margaret Brew. I mention it here because it is a grand Irish novel with a wide social scope, encompassing the lives of both tenants and landlords. I am enjoying the book greatly and think that anyone who responds to Victorian fiction would do so also. All three volumes are available at the Biblioboard app and at the Internet Archive (not at Project Gutenberg yet).

This is the sort of novel that has been lost to literary history, but which may be rediscovered now through modern technologies.

Patrick wrote: "I am almost finished with the first volume of an 1884 "triple-decker", The Chronicles Of Castle Cloyne by Margaret Brew. I mention it here because it is a grand Irish novel with a wi..."

Adding to my TBR list!

Just recommended by Adrian McKinty:

]Ian McGuire The North Water

I am reading by Jess Kidd - but Shhh! I am behind on reading my other books and shouldn't have started this yet :)

Yes :)

Bernard MacLaverty - Midwinter break (Recognizable so far).

Maria wrote: "I am reading by Jess Kidd - but Shhh! I am behind on reading my other books and shouldn't have started this yet :)"

This has been on my TBR list! I loved Himself and cant wait to read this.

I'm currently reading The Women in the Castle and am really enjoying it.

Hans wrote: "Bernard MacLaverty - Midwinter break (Recognizable so far)."

I really like this one.

Hans, while I haven't yet read the new Bernard MacLaverty novel, I have it on my shelves and know that it's been well received by quite a few people in the group.

After a January that was pretty lean on the reading front, mainly due to poor book choices, I'm starting February on the right track, really enjoying Willy Vlautin's new novel, 'Don't Skip Out on Me'.

I hope you enjoy it, like I'm doing. I've read Cal and Lamb. Liked those as well.

I've never heard of Vlautin. I'll have a look at him. Thanks Allan!

Midwinter Break was my first (and so far, my only) book by Bernard MacLaverty
really enjoyed - may pick another one this year

I have Midwinter Break but I haven't read it .Soon I hope.

Susan wrote: "Just recommended by Adrian McKinty:

]Ian McGuire The North Water"
That's already on my TBR list though I don't recall where I saw it.

Been meaning to read Midwinter Break for a while now. - For once in my life I don't have a copy yet.

I finished Ready Player One and really enjoyed it now I'm ready to see the movie :)
Now I will be starting The Nightingale

I've got that novel on my shelf unread, Declan - one of the many I must get back to!

On a translated fiction double header at present - 'Look Who's Back' on audio and 'Out Stealing Horses' in physical form.

The Gustav Sonata was one of my favorite reads, Declan. I hope you end up liking it. You are right, it is very different from her other books. She's so versatile.

I am reading an interesting book right now called The Great Alone about a family living very far north in Alaska. First of all, living there in those conditions would have driven me mad. The four months of summer is all about preparing for the 8 months of winter. I would die in those long days of winter. Sun up at 10 or 11 and setting at 4 pm. People go crazy and I think it's because of not getting enough sun. We have been having wonderful spring like weather. It's been 80 F/26C and I have been feeling so great. It's all that sun. Then today it dropped to a bone chilling 56F/13C and rained. It was sad.

Bone chilling 56f??!! Are you kidding? It was 14f when we left Buffalo last Tuesday. High today in La Paz, Mexico was 82f. 56f is balmy.
Liz read The Great Alone and loved it. I will read it soon.

To be fair, Thomas, there was a sight wind so that would be a wind chill factor too. :) I walked the dog and noticed other people were wearing coats too so I am not alone. The other day, the news reported that it was -20F in Great Falls, Minn.with the wind chill factor, a 100 degree difference in temperature.

I am really enjoying The Great Alone although I would never willingly live there. It may be 14F in Buffalo but I noticed you escaped to balmy Mexico. Have a wonderful trip.

Declan, the book is satire, commenting on modern German society, and I think was actually made into a film. A very interesting premise with quite a few moments that are making me smile...

reading two f*cking books at the moment

librarian was nonplussed

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
and
The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight

new year's resolution still on track

Susan wrote: "The Gustav Sonata was one of my favorite reads, Declan. I hope you end up liking it. You are right, it is very different from her other books. She's so versatile.

I am reading an i..."

I'm on the waiting list for that one, Susan. I'll be interested to see what you think of it.

Not anymore Declan :)

Donna wrote: "Susan wrote: "The Gustav Sonata was one of my favorite reads, Declan. I hope you end up liking it. You are right, it is very different from her other books. She's so versatile.

I a..."

I reviewed it, Donna, if you want to see. :)

Declan wrote: "@Susan. I'm around 60% through and it's been great so far. It's quite a strange little novel but I've enjoyed every page.

@Allan. I read the blurb after you mentioned, but Channel 4 Greenlighted a..."

A comedy about the famine? It seems strange although they made a comedy about a German POW camp, Hogan's Heroes.

What does cosh mean?

I read your review Susan and totally agreed with it. I was actually talking about The Great Alone.

though i think channel 4 only commissioned a script for a pilot, then for whatever reasons, didn't commision an actual series

or at least if they did, it is written out of my memory

Thanks, Declan. I love learning new slang. Now how will i fit it into a conversation? Let's say I am at my in-person book club and instead of talking about our two books, they get off on floral medications and start giving out recipes (true story). Can I say I will cosh you if you don't talk about the books? And no I am not replacing my heart medication with some flower extract.

Donna, I think you would really like The Great Alone. I still haven't shaken it off yet enough to enjoy my next book, an in person book choice, so you know it's weird.

Susan, with wind chill, that 14f was minus 2. When I snowblow, I look like Nanook of the North and still get snow blowing into my face. Liz calls winter cruises "our annual get the hell out of Buffalo winter cruise."
Valentine's day brunch. Liz received a rose and I had a mimosa. We both ate chocolate heart brownies
Yesterday we rode the Copper Canyon train. Mexico's Copper Canyon is deeper than US Grand Canyon
Two days ago we toured Mazatlan, a Love Boat port.

Today we are taking a nature boat tour from Guyamas.

Susan wrote: "Thanks, Declan. I love learning new slang. Now how will i fit it into a conversation? Let's say I am at my in-person book club and instead of talking about our two books, they get off on floral med..."

I thought book group discussions were supposed to be quiet, genteel affairs?

They are, Thomas. I was just fantasizing. It was the 15 minute discussion of the value of floral remedies over traditional medicine that drove me slightly crazy.

an author I had for some reason been resistant to, but added to read following her recent death

just finished The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

extraordinary book, highly recommend

I'm reading The Immortalists and hope to finish this weekend. I wish I had more time to read this week. Listening to The Leavers which may be one of the best books I've read (at least recently) about immigrants and more.

Declan wrote: "Finished The Gustav Sonata earlier. it was brilliant. It's quite strange at parts and leaps back and forth through time, from character to character and in many different directions.

I can't recom..."
I also have to read more of her books. I've only read this and The Road Home which I rated even higher. There's a big Oxfam Book shop in Edinburgh which I hope to visit.

I'm delighted that you enjoyed it, Declan!

just finished and really enjoyed Lincoln in the Bardo,
I know the unusual narrative style really divided readers
interested to hear any goodreads ireland opinions, up or down

Andy wrote: "just finished and really enjoyed Lincoln in the Bardo,
I know the unusual narrative style really divided readers
interested to hear any goodreads ireland opinions, up or down"

I'm really happy you enjoyed Lincoln in the Bardo.
I plan on reading this after Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.
I read last year The Dirty Dust: Cré na Cille that takes place in a graveyard too . I didn't care for it myself but a lot of people like it .

I’m reading The Sea Detective, just a few chapters in, but I’m really enjoying it. I remember reading Susan’s review a few months back, putting it on my TBR list—and then I happened to see it available at the library a couple of days ago.

Cathleen wrote: "I’m reading The Sea Detective, just a few chapters in, but I’m really enjoying it. I remember reading Susan’s review a few months back, putting it on my TBR list—and then I happened..."

I've got it on my shelves (thanks to Susan). I am sticking to reading female authors this month for Femmetuary but that may be just the book to take on my trip to Edinburgh.

I am reading Grace Notes by Bernard MacLaverty, only my second of his. So far so good.
Then I must find something for my European literature theme in the 2018 challenge.

Cathleen wrote: "I’m reading The Sea Detective, just a few chapters in, but I’m really enjoying it. I remember reading Susan’s review a few months back, putting it on my TBR list—and then I happened..."

Oh, I am so happy to hear that.

Sue, of all the MacLaverty books that I've read, my favourite is 'The Anatomy School'. Still have his latest to read, thanks to Barbara's kind gift, so that might change, but I would definitely recommend that one if you decide to go to him again.

Thanks, Allan. I was looking through his back catalogue and wondering what to go for next, now I know. I like his writing so much I'll be revisiting his work as often as I can.