Goodreads Ireland discussion

Sara wrote: "The funny thing is that I will most likely read none of these books this weekend. I'm planning to read the last 70 pages of The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two, The Road Home..."

I've had The People's History of the US for ages, and I keep meaning to read it (or at least start it!). I've just started The Road Home--early pages, and I'm moving along in The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. That's a re-read, so hopefully it won't take me too long. And I'm listening to a Bill Bryson book--At Home. I'm still getting accustomed to listening, rather than reading books. That's taken me some getting used to.

I have a really bad sinus headache today, so I've been siting in front of my computer futzing around/not reading. I finally got up the energy to do some laundry, and now I'm going to shower...Hopefully that helps with the headache, as I'd love to do some reading this afternoon...I'm about 70 pages from finishing The Road Home and can't wait to jump into the discussion. After that I should have time to read some of Krik Krak by Edwidge Danticat (an author I know Barbara recommends highly).

I'm almost finished The Mysterious Affair at Styles which I'm really enjoying even though it feels like people standing around chatting.

I drink drink tea by the bucket load when I read it for some reason.

Sara I hope you feel better very soon.

Somehow everything registered with me but your headache, Sara. :/

Hope you feel better, soon.

The shower definitely helped. The steam really helps clear things out. Time for some drugs, more tea, and books! Books make everything better.

Good deal Sara!

I've just started a book that Cathleen recommended a while ago, 'Downtown' by Pete Hamill, about his love for Manhattan.

The reason why I'm mentioning it, is because on reading the first chapter, I found that both Hamill's folks were from Belfast, which I didn't expect.

Given the subject matter, and the albeit tenuous NI link, I think I'm going to enjoy this one! :)

Allan wrote: "I've just started a book that Cathleen recommended a while ago, 'Downtown' by Pete Hamill, about his love for Manhattan.

The reason why I'm mentioning it, is because on reading the first chapter,..."

Hey Allan, I'm so glad that you're enjoying that book. I read it about five or six years ago, and I thought it was a beautiful love letter to his city. I read it before we were going down for a weekend, so everything would be fresh in my mind when we got there :)

Allan wrote: "I've just started a book that Cathleen recommended a while ago, 'Downtown' by Pete Hamill, about his love for Manhattan.

The reason why I'm mentioning it, is because on reading the first chapter,..."

While waiting for my car to be serviced this morning, I read over 100 pages of The Christmas Kid by Pete Hamill which I bought yesterday. I did read some of The Goldfinch while waiting, but found it easier to read a "real" book. Loving Hamill and wil definitely read more. I knew his parents were Irish immigrants but didn't know they were from Belfast. I'd call Hamill "an American original".

Barbara wrote: "Allan wrote: "I've just started a book that Cathleen recommended a while ago, 'Downtown' by Pete Hamill, about his love for Manhattan.

The reason why I'm mentioning it, is because on reading the ..."

It's been awhile since I read Downtown, so much of it is in the blurry haze of fond remembrances--but I do remember the section where he mentioned that every afternoon around 4 pm, he sits and reads--usually a classic. I loved that little detail, and I was more than a bit envious, wishing I could do the same every afternoon at 4 :)

I think that Thanksgiving and the weekend after are great times to read. This is my shelf of stuff I'm going to take a crack at.

That's one hell of a shelf, Sara. Best of luck with that.

Thanks Declan. It may look like a lot but there's 3 kids or YA books on there and a short graphic novel.

By the way Declan, I think Hyperion would be right up your alley. I'm only about 40 minutes into thee 21 hour audiobook, but so far it's intriguing.

It's added, Sara, thanks.

I really need to start prioritising my to-read list.

Good to see Troubles on the shelf as well, Sara the quarterly read hasn't really been mentioned much lately, so it'll be good to get that discussion started as well! :)

I just finished Hyperion and its follow-up. The first one is excellent, got a nice arc to it and the style and structure are very engaging. It's basically like a sci-fi version of The Canterbury Tales (short stories from the characters involved)...but more buck wild. Plus there are endless - and I mean endless - references to classical literature. Simmons must be obsessed!

The Fall of Hyperion then jumps into a typical narrative structure. It's as good as the first in terms of what it does. I don't think I engaged with it as much though, because while the story was aces, it was a little all over the place at times. I mean it weaves in an out between characters and places a lot, which was fine...but not for a lad reading at 3-4 A.M. My head was getting sore with effort! They are actually marvelous sci-fi books all things said!

I recently read Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds also which I really enjoyed. The science in it is excellent and as a result I couldn't put it down. I love things with ancient civilizations that have mysteriously disappeared. It's a pity though that I had played Mass Effect (the video game) before reading it as the two plots are a little similar and I think that might have curbed its impact just a little bit on me.

I'm trying to get on a binge of reading now, to make up for my months of idleness. Next up is a play: Playboy of the Western World. Should be quick and it's set in my home county so...great! Then the December book. Getting a kindle for Christmas from my mum so that'll boost me I think. Poor woman, she's massively excited about getting it for me. I normally tell her not to get me anything and it upsets her but this year I'm playing along. I spoil her. :P

@Allan. I'll probably be starting the QIR tonight at some stage.

@Niall. If Hyperion is half as good as I've been reading I'll be finishing the whole series

I read RS too and I loved it. Very underated book.

Oh no doubt about it, once you get into Hyperion at all...your life is over until you finish it. I suppose that's a sign of its quality really.

Are Reynold's other books as good as Revelation Space? I've heard that that they fail to maintain the level in quality...

I've read a few and some are better than others. None of I've read are anywhere near as good Revelation Space. I'll probably read him again, though.

@Niall I love the Canterbury Tales and I love scifi, so Hyperion is made for me.

http://twitpic.com/dmwhky (A picture of my books). First up will be a few stories out of Krik Krak. Danticat's work is beautiful but sad, so I can't stand to read more than a couple of these at a time. Next up will probably be Zora and Me...and then digging into The Troubles.

We're lucky to have you, Sara. You make the rest of us bookaholics look pretty moderate.

Enjoy your reading.

I shouldn't be allowed to chat here. I haven't been reading! I started a book that looks good and it's sitting there begging me to read it. Not today! My family's on the way!

Books will always wait until you're ready, Jamielynn. :)

That's very nice of you to say Declan.

I hope you find time to get stuck into your book soon, Jamielynn.

Oh I will. I will do what I used to do. At least a chapter a day. If you do that you can do it. There's actually a thing on NPR radio called "A Chapter a Day." Some guy reads a book and does the voices. It's funny when he tries to do women.

I'm looking forward to listening to more of Hyperion at the gym today and then coming home to finish Zora and Me and the Danticat short story collection.

I went to Audible to see if my monthly credit is ready yet (I'm due for another one today), and lo and behold what do I find but Audible deals...Basically they have 300+ books for 4.95 a piece.

I'm considering picking up a few...including Paradise Lost by Milton and Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut.

Oh I forgot to mention the deal ends December 3rd at 11:59 EST.

Thanks for the heads up on the audiobook front, Sara. I couldn't resist, and bought the Vonnegut one myself, along with The Ice Storm by Rick Moody. I see The Absolutist by John Boyne is on the list as well, which I'd recommend if you haven't read it before!

I've started the QIR, Troubles, and even though it's early days I'm enjoying it. I love the the portrayal of stiff-upper-lips and the restrictive social etiquette. I hope it keeps up like this.

I just binged and bought 7 audio books (6 for $4.95 and one for $2.99), but hey I'm being virtuous because 6 is whittled down from an original list of 20 I was considering. I also noticed that they had added 100+ titles so it's now at 400+. The end of the sale is tomorrow.

Here's what I got:

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut (short but it's one of a handful of Vonnegut's I haven't read).

The Speed of the Dark by Elizabeth Moon (looked interesting because the main character is autistic, science fiction).

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (This is one of my favorite books and it's narrated by Kenneth Branagh. Being a renowned actor I'm sure he does a terrific job as narrator).

The Portrait of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde ($2.99 and narrated by Stephen Fry)

Oil by Upton Sinclair (The movie There Will Be Blood (which is absolutely terrific if you haven't seen it) was based on this book).

The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (I find travelogue type books to be splendid as audio books).

Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason (Icelandic mystery)

That's a great selection, Sara. And Fry's narrating TPoDG!? I think it'll prove worth more than $2.99.

I read The Portrait of Dorian Gray. It was autobiographical in a lot of ways. Stephen Fry is a huge fan of Oscar Wilde. He also has a beautiful voice. I bet it's excellent. That book was used as evidence against Wilde in court. What a clever man he was. There are so many excellent quotes from him. He had a dynamic personality and a fantastic sense of humor. Even in his deathbed he said something to the effect of.. These drapes are awful. One of us has to go. Not a direct quote but that's the gist of it. He said it much better of course.

I think it's only $2.99 because it's relatively short, but I agree Declan. I think I have enough audio books now that I could listen for two weeks non-stop and still not be done with them all. First up is finishing Hyperion (still 16 hours of listening to go) and then onto the December Group Read, To Say Nothing of the Dog.

@Jamielynn. When I was younger I had a bit of a disliking to Wilde because I only ever heard of his egotistucal side; ' I have nothing to declare..." etc.

I'm glad that faded and I read TPoDG.

@Sara. That's fierce amount of listening. I don't know why, but hours to listen seems more daunting than pages to read.

Sara-I went back after I read your post and bought another couple of audiobooks myself-Gods Without Men by Hanzi Kunzru and The Absolutist by John Boyne, which I've bought to enjoy as a reread. Pretty good value, all told!

@Allan I'm glad I can be such a "positive" influence.

Sara wrote: "I just binged and bought 7 audio books (6 for $4.95 and one for $2.99), but hey I'm being virtuous because 6 is whittled down from an original list of 20 I was considering. I also noticed that the..."

Wow, Sara. What a list of books--and such deals. I'd like listening to Kenneth Branagh and Stephen Fry, no matter what they were reading :)

Sara, it doesn't take too much for someone to have a positive influence on me re books lol, but in highlighting the sale, you've given me plenty to listen to between Christmas and New Year, when I've been tasked with staining 11 new internal doors that we're getting fitted in the house! That'll be a life saver in itself, so thanks! :)

How long will that take Allan? I bet they'll look nice. You should take a picture for us when you're done! Audiobook for me make time at the gym go by a lot faster.

Sara, I'd say that the doors will take me a lot longer that they'd take a more experienced DIYer, but I'll get them done eventually. Having the audiobooks to listen to definitely makes the job a little less onerous-I can immediately link books in my head to the painting job I was doing when I was listening, even if I listened to them / painted a room years ago! These things must be done...!

I couldn't think of a duller thing to look at than a painted door btw, but I'll see what I can do re photos when I'm done!

Maybe you could get some pictures of you in front of the door or also ones of the rest of your house. I'm fascinated by other people's living spaces.

Declan wrote: "@Jamielynn. When I was younger I had a bit of a disliking to Wilde because I only ever heard of his egotistucal side; ' I have nothing to declare..." etc.

I'm glad that faded and I read TPoDG.

..."

He was egotistical. Part of his charm LOL! I love his conceited quotes. I showed a pic of him to my daughter and she said, "Wow he dressed so cool!" She became an immediate fan and bought a book of his works. She loves his style.

I have a problem with how he used messenger boys. He was with 16 yr olds and possibly younger. He ran what we call a prostitution ring. He was a fan of "men loving boys" That bothers me. His boyfriend Bosey(Spelling))wanted to be with Wilde's very young son which Wilde objected to. There is some hypocrisy there but I guess no matter how you live your own life it's separate from how you want your kids to be treated.

In any case he was talented. The Importance of Being Ernest" was quickly written for a quick buck. It was autobiographical. I love that play. Very funny and quick and clever!

PS Wilde's boyfriend knew his father sent a private detective to follow him around and said nothing. Much of what happened in that case was Bosey trying to get back at his father. Tragic. Wilde forgave him. I wouldn't have.

I'll be getting a biography of Wilde at some point next year thanks to your brief post, Jamielynn. Whatever else you can say about the man, he was bloody well interesting.

Anyone read a good biography of his life? Sounds like it could be an interesting read from the posts above