Goodreads Ireland discussion

@ LMM I just finished Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. She is very good at character description but the story makes your skin crawl. I like Truman Capote's The Grass Harp. I like Tennesee Williams although his books are usually in playwrite form. I liked A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin roof.

Southern Gothic seems to be designed to bring you to an odd and earthy place.
This subject was on another thread but I forgot which one! Haha I can be an airhead at times.

Declan wrote: "@Kate. I'm a little disappointed to hear that. I'd only heard good things about it up until now and I was beginning to look forward to reading it. I think I'll still persevere with it though.

@Evi..."

I will still own my liking Heatwave. I believe each of us brings a little of ourselves to what we read which explains varied reactions to books.

Littlemissmuffet wrote: "Jamielynn wrote: "@ LMM I just finished Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor. She is very good at character description but the story makes your skin crawl. I like Truman Capote's The Grass Harp. I like..."

Haha! LMM I'm glad you found my comment. Capote is good.

@Declan

Yes, it's amazing how he takes all these long-held, polarised views of famine times and, through the characters, sort of makes you see things in a different light. But I think what really makes the book is that it doesn't confine itself to a famine story, the murder mystery really keeps up the suspense till the very end. Great read :)

@Barbara. I think that's very true. One thing I like about our book discussions is learning why other members did or didn't like a book. Being a member here has made me pretty good at recommending books to people. I still have the occasional miss, but I've gotten surprisingly good at it.

@Evie. I actually never gave much thought to the various dimensions of the book. I was mostly just drawn in by the characters, all of whom were very intriguing. You've given me something to think about.

I'm currently reading Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service. I'm not that far into yet, but it is pretty interesting.

@Barbara, I am having trouble getting into Flight Behavior. I noticed you have it a good review. Does it get better? So far I am not fond of the characters.

I'm so impressed you jumped right into it even though it was not my favorite. Let me know how Dominion is and whether I should dig it out of my stack and finally read it.

I wanted to share the quote from Instructions for a Heatwave that pushed over the line from a 3 star to a 4 star read for me.

"Spotting an elderly couple across the aisle, Gretta hails them with a booming, "Hot enough for you?" The couple raises their heads, like startled sheep, but Gretta is in. She shunts herself along a couple of seats. "Are you on holiday?" She asks. Within seconds, Monica, knows, Gretta will have extracted a complete family history from the couple and a comprehensive travel itinerary and will be well on the way to returning the favor."

Gretta's behavior is totally something my Grandma on my mother's side would have done when she was alive. I agree with Barbara that "each of us brings a little of ourselves to what we read which explains varied reactions to books."

I love that passage too, Sara. It made me think of my mom although she didn't have the booming voice.

My ma was always great at starting conversations with random strangers. I've always envied that about her. When I try to do it I often scare people.

I'm determined to read it now. I might make it my business to read it after the next monthly read.

I read "Claire of the Sea Light" last week by the Haitian-American writer Edwidge Danticat. It got me to pick up a book I bought recently "Farewell Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti" by Amy Wilentz. I can't put it down. It's non-fiction and mostly an account of post-earthquake Haiti and international aid. There are several books on why aid doesn't work but this one is written by someone who has been back and forth to Haiti for about 30 years. She speaks Kreyol (Creole) and knows Haiti well. Haiti is a fascinating country and Wilentz knows how to tell her story. Interestingly Frederick Douglass who was ambassador to Haiti at the end of 19th century wrote a description of Haiti that still holds true today. More when I finish this book...

Barbara, you can't leave us hanging like that!

Do we have to wait until you're finished to get Douglas's description?

@Barbara, please keep us posted. My inperson book group is always looking for good non-fiction and this one sounds right up our alley.

Declan - I will try to copy it this weekend. But I have to say it makes more sense in the context of the book. After 100 pages or more that describe all the ways in which Haiti doesn't work and why, here we have Frederick Douglass describing the same thing 120 years ago.

Susan - I will for sure.

In that case, Barbara, I may have to read the book. :)

I've a bit a curiosity bug for Douglas since I read TransAtlantic. I think I might really enjoy it.

Was it in Farewell Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti?

Since there's more cozy fans in here...
I am reading Joanne Fluke's Lake Eden Cookbook and

How can something with 'murder' in the title look so bloody cheerful?

ha because it's a cute cozy.

The tagline should be 'murder has never been so warm and inviting.'

Haha you made me laugh. good one :)

That's what I do. ;)

Declan wrote: "That's what I do. ;)

"

lol ;) Well by all means.....

That sounds like a challenge.

couldn't see that til now.. wow! lol

I'm drinking my first morning coffee and just saw these photos. They're making me laugh :) You two are comical.

I was up until the small hours last night. I could use a coffee myself.

Hmmm - What are you reading? populated by cat pictures? At least they are not videos. I'm allergic to cats so I am going back to the topic of this thread.

I just started Alice McDermott's Someone, a 2013 National Book Award longlist title. I'm already 1/3 through. It's a quickish read, and I am loving it.
Just broke down and bought 3 Audible credits. I just downloaded Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being. This group has me reading more current releases and it has been great!

my apologies... well I am almost finished with Christmas Carol Murder, had to put the reading on pause for the match today... when finished I will start lol

I signed up for a free Audible.com trial. Do you get to keep the books forever after you download them or is it a rental situation?

Sara

This is a collection of short stories. I will probably just read J.D. Robb's story- Taken in Death. It's a modern twist on Hansel & Gretel.

Deb wrote: "couldn't see that til now.. wow! lol
"

Awwwwww! Those are so cute! I love the surprised one LOL Funny!

I'm reading The Collaboration/ Hollywood's Pact with Hitler.

They will do anything for money.

That sounds like a very interesting book, Jamielynn. I remember see Robert Downey Jr.'s Chaplin where Chaplin was hounded out as a communist for speaking out about the Nazis' strong-arm politics, and wondering how far those sentiments went.

Thanks Jamielynn :)
Littlemissmuffett- aw you should try at least one. If you like crime mysteries I think you would like it. It's futuristic which turned me off at first. I am glad that I took a chance on this series because I love it.The main character is a female that kicks butt. The other character that all the females seem to love is Roarke. He is from Ireland.

Lately I'm interested in old Hollywood.
So many cover ups in those days. If an actor/actress wasn't living a pristine life the studios paid people off to keep things quiet. Gay people were pushed to go into "lavender" marriages. A lot of people were gay back then but forced to hide who they really were.
I guess they could have been out in the open but they would have lost their careers.

There was a documentary called Girl 27 about a young starlet who was told she was going to do a dance scene in a movie. She was told to wear a costume for that scene. It was actually a party. She was raped. Everyone, including her own mother was paid off to keep silent. That was all Louis B. Mayor from Metro-Goldwyn Mayer...that's not in the book though. I think it's crazy that the scandals of yester-year make today's look mild.
For all we know there are hidden crimes still going on..who knows? Why is fame so important?

Have you seen the movie LA Confidential, Jamielynn? I thought it handled the Hollywood/LAPD relationship quite well.

Declan wrote: "Have you seen the movie LA Confidential, Jamielynn? I thought it handled the Hollywood/LAPD relationship quite well."


No I haven't. I should look into that.

Do. More specifically Kevin Spacey's character acts as a kind Hollywood liaison. It's not all about the studios but worth a look, I feel.

I thought Russell Crowe was good in this too. Kim Basinger looked like a Hollywood starlet. Oh wait, she was. Great movie.

Yeah, I think Crowe might have stole the show, but Pearce was excellent too. The entire cast was great.

Agreed.

Littlemissmuffet wrote: "Deb wrote: "Littlemissmuffett- aw you should try at least one. If you like crime mysteries I think you would like it. It's futuristic which turned me off at first. I am glad that I took a ..."
Than..."
Dark Witch? I want to try that set out. :) Yes, she seems to really love Ireland, even her descriptions are something Irish. 'her eyes are the color of the best Irish whiskey' hahah. I wanted to know if she was reffering to Jameson. ha

Littlemissmuffet wrote: "Deb wrote: "Dark Witch? I want to try that set out. :) Yes, she seems to really love Ireland, even her descriptions are something Irish. 'her eyes..."
LOL, actually 'Dark Witch' is being published ..."

Thanks :) I can't wait. It sounds interesting. :)

Littlemissmuffet wrote: "Deb wrote: "Dark Witch? I want to try that set out. :) Yes, she seems to really love Ireland, even her descriptions are something Irish. 'her eyes..."
LOL, actually 'Dark Witch' is being published ..."

The title itself is intriguing.