The Next Best Book Club discussion

Book Concierge wrote: " The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery – 4****
Somehow I never before read this fable that has become a classic of children’s literature. The author ..."

One of my favorites. We read it in French class (in French) senior year of HS, and I had to buy my own copy after -- in French, of course. Fast forward to college graduation, and our class speakers used the part about friendships/forming ties in their speech. ☺

The Little Prince is my favorite book of all times! I've read it 5 times!

Sandra wrote: "Paula, Defending Jacob is a great book! Hope you are enjoying it!

I am so far Sandra. I haven't much time to sit and read for much time but I'm hoping to get into it this weekend more.

I'm rereading the first three issues of Transformers: Windblade by IDW Comics. The art is beautiful and the story and characters are awesome. As of this series, Windblade and Chromia are my two favorite transformers.

Today I finished The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson. It is the second book in the Mistborn trilogy and a very strong fulcrum for the series, I think. I thoroughly enjoyed it - 4★s.

Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just started A Dance with Dragons

I just finished two books recently and haven't moved on to my next one yet. One was Brutal Youth by Anthony Breznican about kids trying to survive in a corrupt Catholic high school where the students and the teachers are all cruel, or most of them are, and The Pearl That Broke It's Shell by Nadia Hashimi. This one is about a girl growing up in Afghanistan in a family where all the children are girls. Their father is a drug addict, and since the Taliban has taken over the girls and their mother are virtual prisoners in their apartment because girls and women must be accompanied by men or boys wherever they go. So the mother decides that Rahima, the middle daughter, will become a Bacha Posh, that is, she will dress like a boy and do all the things a boy does until she is old enough to marry. Rahima goes to school, plays soccer with the boys, gets an after school job, and goes to the market. Then suddenly their father marries all of his older daughters off to a war lord he's indebted to. Rahima is 13 at the time. The story of Rahima's great great grandmother is told alongside Rahima's. Shekiba was burned as a baby so she is considered unmarraigable. After a lot of misfortune she ends up becoming an adult Bacha Posh guarding the king's harem since he does not trust men to guard them.

Renee - I had The Pearl That Broke Its Shell last week from the library but couldn't get into it. And then just yesterday I brought home Brutal Youth.

Could you tell us how you rated both of these books?

I'm reading "The Devil's Punchbowl" by Greg Iles.

Nancy from NJ wrote: "Renee - I had The Pearl That Broke Its Shell last week from the library but couldn't get into it. And then just yesterday I brought home Brutal Youth.

Could you tell us how you rated both of thes..."

The Pearl that Broke it's shell takes a little time to get going. I think I gave both either three or four stars.

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (Audio performed by William Dufris) – 4****
This is the novel that introduced readers to Nick and Nora Charles (and their Schnauzer Asta). It is a delightful mystery and a sophisticated comedy of manners all in one. Nick and Nora are wonderful characters – calm and cool, rich and glamorous, full of wisecracks and martinis. Hammett has the reader chasing just about every character as a suspect. The final reveal was a complete surprise to me. William Dufris is marvelous performing the audio version. He has a gift for voices and really brings this large cast to life.
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Reading The Family Fang A spur of the moment read and it's really funny and clever.

Moonrise by Cassandra King – 1*
Within a few pages I recognized the plotlines and characters of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca. But this modern retelling of that classic falls far short of the mark. King may have intended it as an homage to DuMaurier’s novel, but the result is a travesty, a mediocre soap opera. The characters behave like they are in junior high rather than late middle age. Still, finding similarities to Rebecca kept me entertained enough for 1 star.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished reading Storm Front by Jim Butcher - a great one for anyone looking for a fun, quirky read! 4★s.

Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading Married with Zombies.

Just finished Reconstructing Amelia that was a great mystery, with a clever plot and an absolutely page turner.

Still working on Blackbirds and I started yesterday The Help by Kathryn Stockett. So far so good.

I'm reading two books right now, Mademoiselle Gigi a WWII story of a Jewish family fleeing Paris during the German occupation and for fun a steampunk, Look Homeward, Clockwork Angel.

I am reading Joe Abercrombie book Best Served Cold. After the First Law series I became a fan.

I hope to finish The Quiet Game by Greg Iles and then choose my next title from the many I have downloaded.

BTW - The Quiet Game begins a series which Iles just returned to with his newest book, Natchez Burning, but I like to leave a bit of time between books so I don't OD on them.

The Shining by Stephen King

Miss Julia Delivers the Goods by Ann B Ross – 3***
I love Miss Julia and the rest of the cast of characters in these charming Southern stories. Everyone is in everyone else’s business, but always (or mostly) with good intentions. While the mystery of who broke into Sam’s place does provide a little distraction, the main focus in this book is on Hazel Marie and Mr Pickens and their on-again-off-again relationship. A few laughable moments, no real danger, and characters you just want to hug … what could be better on a summer day?
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I continue to listen to The Museum of Extraordinary Things and just now added the e book, The Plum Tree.

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb – 5*****
Audio performed by Archie Panjabi. The subtitle says it all: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. What an inspiring and enlightening story. Malala gives the historical background of Pakistan and the Pashtun culture, as well as that of her own family. In a society that values sons, her parents encouraged and praised their daughter’s ambitions. My mother’s favorite saying was: Educate a man and you educate an individual / Educate a woman and you will have educated a family. Malala Yousafzai has taken that saying one step further; she is educating the world.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

I am reading The Turning Angel by Greg Iles and Somerset by Leila Meacham

Book Concierge wrote: " I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb – 5*****
Audio performed by Archie Panjabi. The subtitle says it all: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education a..."

I read this when it first came out. I think Malala's father was a huge inspiration to her.

Just finished You Know When the Men Are Gone eight short stories about the soldiers and their wives living at Fort Hood. In spite of the name most of the stories are really about what happens when the men return home from deployment.

I just finished The Hero of Ages, the final book of the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson. I found it a very thought-provoking book in ways that I did not expect - 4★s.

My review is here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am currently reading on my Kindle e the book, Turning Angel by Greg Iles and reading from a traditional book, Road Ends by Mary Lawson.

Just started Dan Brown's latest, 'Inferno' because, well, I just had to.

Still reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea but I'm also reading the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns.

I have finally finished and it was pretty good and i gave up on for a challenge i was working on and i traded it for a manga i started on My iPod and i liked that much better than the book i would have chosen. Sometimes Manga comes in handy. I am now reading and i hope to have it done by Tuesday so i can go to the library to get more books.

I have finished reading Lord of Misrule and it was pretty good. I am now listening to and i am reading and and they seem to be pretty good so far.

Reese wrote: "Hello everyone!

My name is Reese Anderson. I am a new author. I have really been trying to get the word out about my debut. When It Rains, It Pours was released a few months ago. PLEASE at lea..."

Hi, Reese!Congratulations on "When It Rains, It Pours!" I just read the first couple of pages. I like it! Will be buying!

I also have my debut novel - Simple Choices (by Kimberly Collins) - available on Amazon. Check it out if you get a chance.

I know what you mean about conversations here - I am new to Goodreads and find it difficult to navigate and become part of the discussions.

Good luck!

I'm going to start reading Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier.

Hello Kim!

Thanks. Yeah I find GoodReads is a little less interactive than other platforms. But I am going to check out your book today.

Keep in touch!

Reese

As one who has been in online book groups since the inception of America Online, I must say there is plenty of lively discussions which go on in the Good Read threads.

Why don't you look around especially at the discussions for the monthly books or post something you're interested in and see what happens.

I'm reading . I'm about half way through and enjoying it so far. Saw the movie about three years ago but don't remember much about it.

Lorraine wrote: "I'm reading . I'm about half way through and enjoying it so far. Saw the movie about three years ago but don't remember much about it."

I'm glad you are enjoying this one, Lorraine. I read it a few years ago and loved it. And, while I've yet to see the movie, just knowing Matthew McConaughey starred in it had me hearing his voice in my head as Mickey Haller. Simply based on that I'd say they did a good job on casting.

I just finished "Cold Sassy tree" by Olive Anne Burns. Even though I am atheist /agnostic, I still found it a really good read. Lots of well thought through philosophy about Christianity. The dialog was a bit hard to get into, but soon immersed me in the story, and I continue to think about it. I have started the sequel, which is unfinished as she died right before she finished.

Jude

Just getting started on

Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong – 4****
The debut mystery which introduced Chief Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Bureau. The murder of a national model worker taxes all their resources as Chen and his deputy, Detective Yu, try to find out who killed the girl. Chen is a contrast: a man educated in literature, a published poet, and translator of mysteries, who is also a methodical investigator concerned only with bringing the perpetrator to justice. It is not the kind of mystery that relies on suspense, violent altercations and dangerous situations. Rather, the joy of this novel is watching Chen build his case. I’ll definitely read more of this series.
This is a Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished which was quite fun even though the premise was a bit of a stretch. It gave me a new reading challenge as well, which is always a plus.

Next up is , , and then on Friday.

The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin – 3***
Audio performed by Lorna Raver. Benjamin has mined history in her previous novels and the life of Anne Morrow Lindbergh provides a wealth of information on which to base this work. I’ve read several nonfiction works about the Lindberghs; I’ve read Anne’s book A Gift From the Sea and several of her diaries. So, little of the information I found in this book was news to me, and maybe that’s why I cannot rate it higher. For me it was adequate but not special. The way Benjamin portrays these characters made me really dislike both of them, and I’m left feeling disappointed in them and in the book.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

i have finished listening to and it was very good although i probably won't pick up the second book. I picked up again after staring at it from my bookshelf and i am slowly get engrossed in it. I will either continue to read or . I think this month is a good month for reading books.

Starting The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell.

I am continuing my Joe Abercrombie read with Red Country. Finished The Heroes, if you like a book surround one particular battleground, that book is for you. I really liked it but it is best if the have read all the rest of Abercrombie in order for the full effect.

Jackie wrote: "Starting The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell."

I really liked this one ...

Lady Windermere’s Fan by Oscar Wilde – 3.5***
A Comedy of Manners by a master dramatist. Lady Windermere’s sheltered life may be shattered if Mrs Erlynne’s secret past is revealed. But never fear, after a series of misunderstandings, innuendo, rumors, awkward situations and sincere confessions all will be well. I love Oscar Wilde’s plays, and while this is not his best, if you have a chance to see it performed definitely take the opportunity.
Link to my full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished The Help, a beautiful historical fiction.

I'm still reading Pride and Prejudice and starting today The Perfume Collector