All About Books discussion

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

When God Was a Rabbit by Gemma :)

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

It was already on my wishlist!

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

No, I have not read anything else by her. This is a debut, I don't know if she has already written another book.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

Uhm, it started well, but then..I became irked by it. It's totally implausible. I didn't like how the author wanted so badly to express a deep drama by adding tragedies on tragedies. I think that even one or two tragic events in a story can be sufficient to dramatize a novel, it's all about how you manage them. That was excessive for a single lifetime and so a bit ridiculous. Too many events and the fragmentary structure didn't help, some of them were even neglected.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Honestly and above all personally ..no. :/ Sorry!

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

Sure, it is too funny to not do it! :-D

Sorry you didn't enjoy it, Anastasia!

Gemma


Hi ladies,
I, too, read 'when god was a rabbit' and was over whelmed by all the tragedy, it was a real life book club recommend - we spent a long time discussing the book, and I didn't like it either.
I would not recommend it.

Janice wrote: "Gemma


Hi ladies,
I, too, read 'when god was a rabbit' and was over whelmed by all the tragedy, it was a real life book club recommend - we spent a long time discussing the book, and I didn't li..."

Hi Janice, my book club loved it, much more than I did, and I chose the book! I think it's quite unusual and worth reading, but then, we are all different!

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Diane recommended Whistling Past the Graveyard

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

Yes, this book was on my TBR for a long time. I'm glad Diane recommended and I finally read it!

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

Nope, this was my first book by this author.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

Here is my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Absolutely!

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

Can't wait for the next one!

I've finally read my recommendation so here is my review

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

The Eyes of the Dragon

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
I have read Stephen King but this wasn't on my list.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?
The Stand
Carrie
The Shining

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

I liked it. It was a good story and an easy read. I was slightly but off at times by the writing style- it's aimed a a young adult audience which isn't usually the style I read but it didn't impact on the story. I was a little bit disappointed that there wasn't more fantasy- the magic elements weren't really explored and the Kingdom didn't quite come to life for me

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else? I would.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

Yes!

Here are the questions I should answer:

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Sister by Rosamund Lupton was recommended to me by Gemma. LOTS of people like it!

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

No, I don't think so.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

No.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

I didn't like it at all, but I didn't mind trying it. That is what the swap is all about. It is good to try books not in my normal choice.

My exceedingly short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Absolutely not.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

No. I really didn't enjoy this, but at least I gave it a try. I think it is best I pick my books myself; I know better what fits me.

That is a shame Chrissie, I think Gemma recommended the same book to me and I liked it but different tastes, of course. :)

Alannah wrote: "That is a shame Chrissie, I think Gemma recommended the same book to me and I liked it but different tastes, of course. :)"

Yeah, I am weird. LOTS of people like the book.

Chrissie wrote: "No. I really didn't enjoy this, but at least I gave it a try. I think it is best I pick my books myself; I know better what fits me. "

Was it your first recommendation swap? I'm really sorry you received a recommendation you didn't like.

Was it your first swap?

Alannah and Dely, yes it was my first. I am in no way annoyed. I CHOSE to try a swap. I am kind of a picky reader.....with abnormal tastes I guess.

I can't wait to read my book and review it here!!

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I forgot that is recommended it in a previous swap, I tried not to do that. Maybe because I've done so many now.

It's easy to do, Gemma. Particularly when you have favourites you want to share!

Gemma, well I had not read the book so it didn't matter to me that it was used before. I want to thank you, even if I didn't like the book. It is good for me to try something new; it makes me appreciate what I usually read even more. I am the weirdo; many love the book so it was good I tried.

I had huge problems with the second person singular narrative voice! Didn't that throw you?!

Started yesterday, only few pages, Someone Knows My Name: really great writing!

Chrissie wrote: "Gemma, well I had not read the book so it didn't matter to me that it was used before. I want to thank you, even if I didn't like the book. It is good for me to try something new; it makes me appre..."

It's interesting to read what you thought of it, Chrissie. We read it at my book club a couple of years ago and the group was split by those who really liked it, and those that didn't - mainly because they didn't understand it. I personally loved the twist and thought it was very clever. I hadn't read a book like it before.

Chrissie I didn't struggle with the narrative, I was able to get into the story really quickly. I think that was partly why I enjoyed it so much, I love a book that drags you in from the start. And, like Shirley I loved the twist and the suspense. I didn't guess the ending either.

Gemma, I really think la lot depends on if you like or dislike the narrative technique, ie the usage of second person singular. THAT is what I had trouble with for at least the first third of the book! Then of course it helps to have a sister and love thrillers, neither of which work for me. How were you to know that?!

I think you're right, Chrissie. If I don't like the writing style of a book it puts me off completely. I do love thrillers, but I don't have a sister lol. Thank you for giving it a go.

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Everyman recommended me Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

I don't think because I'm not that into English literature.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

No, never.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

I liked it also because I like Realism though I didn't know if rating it with 3 or 4 stars but seen that I give a lot of importance to the emotions I feel reading a book, I gave it 3 stars because I wasn't emotionally involved and I couldn't relate to any of the characters. But I want to underline that for me 3 stars is a good rating, it means that I liked the book!
I liked the themes Hardy deals with in this book (and I agree with most of them) but I felt that the characters were only symbols of the many themes and so they lost, in my opinion, a little bit of credibility and were less human. I'm glad I read it though some parts (above all the second part of the book) were dragging and I had the impression that characters were more like symbols rather than real human beings.
For more thoughts you can check out the thread "2014 reads" #141: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Yes, because it's a good and interesting book.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

Of course!

dely wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Everyman recommended me Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

2. Would you have read the book or..."

I'm glad you liked it. This was an interesting book, took me a couple of rereads to like it myself.

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
Terri recomended me Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill


2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
It was on my TBR list, but it risked to stay there a long time mor ...

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?
No, never.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?
Liked it extreamley. Even if in University the prfessor with whom I graduated was interested in afroamerican literature, and in partcular of writings of the first period - si autobiographies of former slaves - I didn't know some of the things narratedhere: the story of the b"negroes" freed by the english troups - only to be held almost in the same dejectd situation in Nova Scotia - or their departed to Africa, Sierra Leone, a century before Marcus Garvey ad his "Back to Africa Movement". Really ineresting. This "Book of negroes" remiden me somehowof Shindler's list ...
As I've studied for other examples of black fist literature, I've seen here as well the importance not only of culture and knowledge for liberations, but of wods in general: to be the story teller is imortant as a role ...

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
Definitly!

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?
Of course!

I would like to reread it too but with a different translation to see if the dragging parts are due to the translater's fault or to Hardy's style.

Just finished my recommendation of We Were Liars. Will post my thoughts later, I really enjoyed it.

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
People of the Book--LauraT

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
It was on my TBR list, so theoretically yes.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?
No

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?
I loved it! I couldn't put it down. It's a many-layered story involving Muslims, Jews and Christians. There are many historical vignettes and they are really well done. The story is fantastic.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
Absolutely!

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?
Definitely!

dely wrote: "I would like to reread it too but with a different translation to see if the dragging parts are due to the translater's fault or to Hardy's style."

dely, that is Hardy's style; he wasn't a fast moving, easy-to-read author.

1. What Were You Recommended?
We Were Liars by E.Lockhart

2. Have You Read anything by the author before?
No

3. Would it be something you would ordinarily read?
Maybe, yes.

4. What did you think?
I really enjoyed it. It was a strange book as you have no idea what it's about by reading the synopsis. I thought the way the story was put together was very clever and liked how I was kept guessing right until the end. Really enjoyed the made up fairy tales in between and loved the fact that I got it for 99p on Kindle!

5. Would you recommend to others?
Definitely yes.

6. Take part in another swap?
Yes!

We seem all to be particularly satisfied this time!

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Rahat recommended two books for me to choose from, The Shadow of the Wind and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore & I really liked both of them!

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
Both of them were on my radar but it might have taken a while for me to get around to them...

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

Both of these authors were new to me.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

The Shadow of the Wind -- I especially liked seeing what living in Spain during Franco must have been like. I loved the story - 4½ stars

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore -- I liked the mystery of the "Waybacklist" shelves but not as much as the above. 4 stars

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
I would.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future? Absolutely!

Leslie wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

Rahat recommended two books for me to choose from, The Shadow of the Wind and [book:Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore|1..."

The first I've read - and liked. The second is on my TBR list!!!

Leslie! I'm so glad you liked both the books :)

Still waiting for my book via inter-library swap, says me who is impatiently drumming my fingers on the desk.

Rahat wrote: "Leslie! I'm so glad you liked both the books :)"

Great recommendations Rahat! Thanks :-)

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

dely recommendedItalo Calvino's if on a winter's night a traveler

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

Not a chance.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

No. Never even heard of him.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

This is the second weirdest book I have ever read. (The first being Tristram Shandy). Although it's classed as a novel, that, it seems to me, is only because it doesn't fit into any established category.

Did I like it? That's hard to answer. Parts of it I found very interesting and enjoyable. Parts of it I found utterly bewildering and seeming to have no connection with what I had just read. It was, as dely advised me in advance, a demanding book, requiring close attention and thought. In the end, I'm glad I had the chance to encounter it (which is a much more immersive experience than mere reading), though I'm not at all sure that I understood it. Or, let me put that better, I'm quite sure that there are many aspects of it that I totally missed, but the ones I did (I think) understand made it worthwhile.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

There are only a few people I would recommend it to, but for those I would.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?

Sure. At my age, I don't have much time left to expand my horizons, so I have to go for the brass ring every chance I get. And if you don't like those mixed metaphors, I've got a whole bunch more I can offer.

Everyman wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

dely recommendedItalo Calvino's if on a winter's night a traveler ...."

I know, it's not an easy book but I recommended it to you because I have seen in your profile that you like demanding books (you have read the whole Divine Comedy!).
Last year I've had an interesting readalong about If on a Winter's Night in another group; if you want you can read through it: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I have discussed this book with LitBug and she is really very good in understanding books and talk about them. Have you put together the titles of the chapters? You will have a long sentence.

Everyman wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

dely recommendedItalo Calvino's if on a winter's night a traveler

Told you: Calvino is really a difficoult writer, also for us Italians.
A bit easier by him is the triloy Our Ancestors: The Cloven Viscount, The Baron in the Trees, The Non-Existent Knight; if you liked If on a Winter's Night a Traveler try one of those, maybe The Baron in the Trees

Italo Calvino is one of my favourite writers. And I am very grateful to dely for introducing him to the other. He deserves to be read by more. And he can write in whatever genre he wants. He is a kind of wizard with words and his ability to convey a story. If on a Winter's Night a Traveller is one of his books that I love. If you are interested you also can check into my review. It is a simple review because I could not capture the entirety in it. Here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And Everyman, I think you would love specially his Invisible Cities, a marvelous book and The Castle of Crossed Destinies, for with your knowledge of ancient literature this would be a treat for you.

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you? Their Eyes Were Watching God recommended by Shirley.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily? It has been on my TBR for quite a while but not sure when I would habe gotten to it.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read? No, this is the first

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended? Loved it, wonderful recommendation.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else? Yes

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future? Definitely.

@dely I read LitBug's review of Calvino's book when she posted it. I was, once again, blown away by her review and her intelligence.

@Diane This book was already on my tbr but it just moved up the list!

Bette BookAddict wrote: "@dely I read LitBug's review of Calvino's book when she posted it. I was, once again, blown away by her review and her intelligence.

@Diane This book was already on my tbr but it just moved up t..."

Yes, she stands out, a very intelligent girl.

Dhanaraj wrote: "Italo Calvino is one of my favourite writers. And I am very grateful to dely for introducing him to the other. He deserves to be read by more. And he can write in whatever genre he wants. He is a k..."

I did get his Why Read the Classics out of the library at the same time I got "if...," and look forward to reading his thoughts on that.

dely wrote: "Everyman wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

dely recommendedItalo Calvino's if on a winter's night a traveler ...."

I know, it's not an easy book but I recommended it to you because I have seen in your profile that you like demanding books (you have read the whole Divine Comedy!)."

I wasn't complaining about the recommendation; just recognizing my weakness in understanding it.

Diane S. wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you? Their Eyes Were Watching God recommended by Shirley.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily? It has been on my TB..."

Glad you liked it, Diane. I definitely found myself still thinking about it long after I had read it.

Everyman wrote: "I wasn't complaining about the recommendation; just recognizing my weakness in understanding it. "

Oh no, I didn't mean you were complaining! Mine was only an observation about the complexity of the book.

Let me know what you will think about Why Read the Classics, I have never read it.

dely wrote: "Everyman wrote: "I wasn't complaining about the recommendation; just recognizing my weakness in understanding it. "

Oh no, I didn't mean you were complaining! Mine was only an observation about th..."

Neither have I!! Intersted to know how is it

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?

The House by the Dvina: A Russian Childhood was recommended to me by Chrissie.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

Probably not, since I was not aware of the book .

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?

I haven't read any other book by the author.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?

I really enjoyed this memoir of a Russian/Scotish family. At times the descriptions were beautiful. I especially liked the beginning as Fraser travels on the train to stay with her grandmother in Archangel, Russia. The descriptions of the landscape, the snow and the cold made you feel as if you were there.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Yes, especially if you are interested in Russian culture and history.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?
Yes.

I am glad you enjoyed it, Angela. I particularly liked the parts about Russia before the Revolution - the description of the sleigh rides and the Russian baths stick in my mind like glue.

Thanks , Chrissie . I read your review and I guess Oscar liked it , too !