All About Books discussion

I'm sure there have been times where we have seen a book where we are not sure whether or not to pick it up. Why not come here and see what other members think of the book?

So what did you guys think of the book The End of Your Life Book Club? Is it any good? I'm thinking of borrowing it from the online ebooks library from my local library later on but wanted to know if you guys enjoyed it first before I decided to check it out for myself. It looked interesting.

@Amber, I haven't read it myself but I have seen good things about it.

Oh okay. Cool. ^_^

Nice title!

Thanks LauraT. It looks interesting.

I've put on my TBR list. It is growing and growing...

I read it and enjoyed it. As a massive plus point there is a list of all the books they read at the back of the book. If you like books about books then you will like this.

has anybody read Defending Angels or Darkfever?

I'm afraid not ...

Thanks Tracey. I started reading it yesterday and it was pretty good so far. It came in at my library's online ebook library so I picked it up and started on it. I'm still reading on the mark of Zorro too so I'm much farther on that one then the end of your life book club but they are both pretty interesting ebook reads so far. ^_^

Has anyone read any H.P. Lovecraft? I just saw that a complete collection of his works is available for £1.90 and I'm thinking about downloading it. It's not a very big deal if I don't like it because it's not exactly a huge expenditure, especially for so many stories but I thought I'd ask my fellow book lovers for their opinions first.

I've never read anything by him but he's been recommended to me numerous times. Interestingly enough so far only by people who usually never ever read horror. EVER!

Robert if you like weird gothic scary old school get it call of Cthulhu is truely scary. ps I will join in with some if you decide to read this

I did just download it so I'll let you know when I start reading them.

ok great :)

I'll be interested in hearing what you think of Lovecraft, Robert. I am not a reader of horror but he is supposedly one of the founders of that genre, and I was thinking about At The Mountains Of Madness for the Around-the-World challenge.

Robert wrote: "Has anyone read any H.P. Lovecraft? I just saw that a complete collection of his works is available for £1.90 and I'm thinking about downloading it. It's not a very big deal if I don't like it beca..."

Never personally, my son read something and liked it, but I can't remember which one

Leslie wrote: "I'll be interested in hearing what you think of Lovecraft, Robert. I am not a reader of horror but he is supposedly one of the founders of that genre, and I was thinking about [book:At The Mountai..."

Hi Leslie, I have tried a few times with Lovecraft but I just can't get there. The Mountains of Madness is interesting and some parts of it are really good and quite scary in an unusual way but most of it I was pretty bored and skipped through pages which is something I try not to do! Also, I find his stories can be quite samey.

Has anybody read 'The Silent Wife' by A.S.A Harrison?
It's been compared to 'Gone Girl' quite a lot, and though I liked the premise of the latter book, I finished it feeling a little bit underwhelmed. Apparently 'The Silent Wife' is better. Can anyone confirm/comment-on this?

I read it and liked it a lot

Actually i read both and don't see the similarities both i liked them both

So you would recommend it then, Beth?

btw is redwall any good? I borrowed it from the library and am planning to read it soon.

Has anyone read any of Iris Murdoch's books? Is she good?

The link for the author is: Iris Murdoch.

I haven't, but The Sea, the Sea has been on my list for a while, so I'd be curious to hear opinions about her writing too.

Dhanaraj wrote: "Has anyone read any of Iris Murdoch's books? Is she good?

The link for the author is: Iris Murdoch."

I haven't yet read any of her books but would like to sometime.

I've read most of them...

LOL Jean, you are at current performing what in Germany we call a 'nose-puller' as in 'pulling it out of ones nose' So here I go pulling: how did you like her books Jean?

@ Jean: I too am like Jenny, very curious to know your opinions on Iris Murdoch's writing.

Ugh - that sounds disgusting Jenny :D Should it be on the thread of words? :D

I didn't comment further as it was so long ago since I read any. I used to read them as they came out, and have a signed copy with my name in, from when she did a session in an Oxford Street bookshop...

Since I was so enthusiastic I guess they must be good! I seem to remember The Bell as being quite short and relatively straightforward. And I think I liked The Sea, the Sea , The Book and the Brotherhood and The Philosopher's Pupil a lot, but as they're later ones they are quite lengthy.

The middle ones are a more conventional length, and they are all quite good I think. I've had a look at my shelves to see what I've read, but have no comments :(

Personally I wouldn't bother with the early ones like Bruno's Dream or A Severed Head . I don't really think she had got into her stride by then.

I haven't read any of her works on Philosophy! But of course she was a reputable academic, and this analytical attitude and thoughts about the human condition permeate all her novels, coupled with a kind of dissection of social conventions. There's usually at least one traumatised character. And sometimes some satire. And a fair amount about religion and characters agonising over it sometimes. These are common themes, but not in every book.

Jenny and Dhanaraj, I think you might both enjoy this writer.

And now I'm wanting to read some!! Grrr!

(edited : reputable not reputed! LOL)

Thanks Jean. I might start with The Bell. Like you some one else also said said that it is relatively short and easily accessible of her writing. Moreover, the premise of the novel also looks very interesting.

I hope you enjoy it, Dhanaraj :)

Jean wrote: "Ugh - that sounds disgusting Jenny :D Should it be on the thread of words? :D

I didn't comment further as it was so long ago since I read any. I used to read them as they came out, and have a sign..."

Haha, yes but it is less refering to bogey fishing (pardon me) but I think the idea is that the root of your nose sits awfully close to your brain, so it refers to thoughts being pulled out from your nose ;)

I think I will tackle The Sea, The Sea sometime this year, so I will keep an eye out on what you think about The Bell Dhanaraj. Thanks Jean :)

Ah, I see :D

Jean wrote: "Ah, I see :D"

That's even worse, Jenny!!

Is it? Well only if you think you're pulling out brain-matter...oh I think I just made myself sick. Apologies! :)

@Jenny: I will let you know of my opinions once I have read Iris Murdoch's The Bell.

Has anyone here read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, I've got it sitting beside me in the library and not sure if I should get it or not.

I've forced myself to read this and others by her, but to me she's pretentious and self-absorbed as all the Bloomsbury set were. She commited suicide by walking into the water with stones in her pockets, I think, and I think she might have done it years earlier to save her readers. Sorry!

Horses for courses there then John !
I found Woolfs writing in this way (stream of consciousness) very personal and incredibly poetic.
To be in the mind of someone rather than the words being "spoken" was difficult to grasp to begin with but as I said in my review after a couple of checks back to see if I "got" what was happening I ended up thinking what a wonderful writer she was.
Alannah best bet try it and if you don't get on with her and her style close the book and put it down to experience.
As I see it you've nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Alannah wrote: "Has anyone here read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, I've got it sitting beside me in the library and not sure if I should get it or not."

Just an information: There is a Readalong of it in the month of June.

Alannah wrote: "Has anyone here read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, I've got it sitting beside me in the library and not sure if I should get it or not."

I don't particularly love her way of writing. I've read it and can't say I loved it. I've much preferred Mrs. Dalloway but it's a matter of taste ...

Tracey - indeed, yes! Just like a thread re Catch 22, which I love and most others do not.

Having been a curmudgeon, let me recommend another pre-war writer who divides opinions: John Cowper Powys' masterpiece Wolf Solent, a novel which 'combines an awareness of the power of the spiritual with a feeling for the matter-of-fact, and for the complexities of sexual and romantic impulses, revolving the issues of life and death, good and evil, matter and spirit, reality and appearance, in the war and peace between opposites', as the blurb rightly says. From 1929.

Of Virginia Woolf I've only read Mrs. Dalloway it was the sort of book I felt like throwing across the room in frustration, but I persevered to the end and kind of liked it, in a torturous sort of way!

I really liked Catch 22, but I think it takes a while to get into and grasp what's happening. I also think this would improve with re-reading.

John and Pink I've not read catch 22 it's on my tbr shelf though so hope I will get to it one day. Mrs Dalloway is sitting waiting very patiently on my physical bookshelf along with The Waves.
I like to try lots of authors and genres I would hate to miss out on a great book.:)

I can't get into stream-of-consciousness writing either, so I'm afraid I laughed at what you said, John :D

Have to assume it's my loss though.

LauraT wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Has anyone here read To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, I've got it sitting beside me in the library and not sure if I should get it or not."

I don't particularly lo..."

I am once again in agreement with Laura! :)

@Jean & John, it is always good to hear from people who don't like something as well as those who do. I am always surprised by people who don't like Dickens but it is good that there are different kinds of books for all the different types of people :D

Jean - yes, I'm sure you're right. Like food: why can't I stand blue cheese - so many people like it, I must be missing a great pleasure!

I think one of the good things about Goodreads - and in particular this group - is that we do keep coming up against others with different opinions in a "safe" environment where we can all agree to disagree. That is not always possible in the confines of friends and family, who may for whatever reason be offended by our choices, or differences.

I particularly like the way we can all begin to feel, "OK - maybe I'll try that then", or sometimes, "I'll give it another go." And find ourselves pleasantly surprised. A case in point for me, this month, has been graphic novels. I'm still very much a novice, but I can pretty much guarantee that I would never have touched one had it not been for Goodreads.

And as for stream-of-consciousness writing, I was glad to get a tip from another AAB member (Shirley, I think) who suggested reading large chunks at once, which I had never thought of, tending to read only a bit at a time as I hated it so much!

It's so great that we can share opinions and information - and also different approaches on how to tackle something. And also hopefully that poking a bit of fun, or indulging a personal whim, is accepted in good part too :)