All About Books discussion

I was recommended We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It was on my To-Read list and I did enjoy the Lottery when I read it years and years ago but I might never have read this. And might not have finished it if it weren’t for this swap. Even though it is a short book and the premise sounds interesting, I found it impossible to be engaged by the story. I finally figured out the problem with this book for me - Almost everything of significance to the character development happened before the opening of the book. I read 5 star reviews and agreed with almost everything the people said but for me it didn’t click and was just weird. I am still very very pleased that this was recommended to me as I wanted to read this book and to read more classics.

I likely wouldn’t recommend this to anyone but you never know. There is a chance that this could be like other books that I didn’t enjoy but that kept me thinking long after.

I love the recommendation swap for opening up my reading selection which is often limited to what happens to be available at the moment on my digital library.

Carrie recommended A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

I Loved it!
I specifically asked her to recommend something NOT on my to read shelf .
I’d never read anything by this author.

I’d heard of this book, but hadn’t thought to try it.

Now I am glad I did. I’ll be reading more in the series and I’m giving these as gifts to niece’s and nephews.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys creepy fairy tales.


I tried another favorite of Carrie’s Black Butler, Vol. 1. It was my first exposure to Manga - the story & the illustrations are all good. In fact, I love the artwork.
But, I like reading neat little lines in neat little paragraphs. I'm glad I tried manga but it’s just not for me.
EDITED because now that I have finished the story - I’m hooked and looking forward to Black Butler, Vol. 2


I’m not sure about more swaps, I enjoy trying books that are not on my To Read Shelf.

Leslie wrote: "1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
Caolán recommended Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick to me.

2. Woul..."

Sounds very interesting-

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

Devdas by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Recommended by Rahat

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

When I was in college in 1980, I saw an old movie (maybe 1950) based on this story. It’s a classic tale of it’s time.

Rahat wrote: "Heather! Hey I was just going through this thread and I noticed that you have already read the short story I recommended, I don't know why I didn't see your post earlier.

It's really sad that you..."

Rahat, thanks for rekindling a memory. I years and years ago I enjoyed a movie based on this story

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you? Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Heather recommended it to me.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily? Maybe, I had it on my to-read list, but that list is quite long.

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

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?
Loved it! Thanks for the great recommendation, Heather. I actually stayed up till 5 am to finish the book, even though I had to get up at 7 (It was worth it).

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

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?
Yes, please :D

Joan recommended The Shadow of the Wind. It was already on my tbr so I bumped it up. This is my first time reading Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience. It is a bookworm’s dreambook. I suspect it will be a classic. And yes, I recommend to any reader.

I will continue to participate in future swaps

I agree, June.

I got a recommandation from Heather to read The Book Thief. This has been on my tbr list for quite some time, but I kept putting it off.
The recommendation gave me the definitive push to read it and I really enjoyed it a lot.i did rate it four stars, because it was not as great as I expected maybe more. But it is definitively worth the read.

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you? I was recommended Swing Time by Zadie Smith by June.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily? I had bought the book when it first came out in paperback and was longlisted for the manbooker but I really wasn't drawn to it and kept putting it off (including throughout the time period of the swap!!).

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read? I recently read White Teeth with the group and really enjoyed it.

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?
I really liked it. I don't think it's a perfect book but it's brilliantly written and the story really carried me along. I read it in 3 days despite it being 450 pages long and being at work!

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
I would, if they liked Zadie Smith.

6. Would you take part in another recommendation swap in the future?
I always enjoy the swap and will be taking part again

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
Endless Night by Agatha Christie, recommended by June, and it really was an endless night or two for me cause I just couldn't put it down.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
It was on my to-read list, but I've been putting it off forever.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?
Yes, way too many books to remember, but this was definitely different to the author's other books

4. What did you think of the book you were recommended?
Probably Agatha Christie's best work (that I've read so far) besides "And Then There Were None".

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
Definitely :)

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

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
I was recommended Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller, Gemma recommended it to me.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
Yes, the book had been sitting on my shelf since 2016, at least this gave me the push to read it.

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 really enjoyed it, I got through a large chunk of it in less than a day. Really easy to read it.

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

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

1. Which book were you recommended and who recommended it to you?
Amber recommended Courtesans: Money, Sex and Fame in the Nineteenth Century by Katie Hickman

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
Maybe at some point because I am interested in women's issues and how their role in society has evolved.

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 enjoyed it. It was educational and informative. Her style of writing was engaging.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
Yes, especially to people interested in cultural history and women's issues.

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

Thank you, Amber! I appreciate the recommendation.

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

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

Carrie recommended Heaven by V.C. Andrews.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

No, definitely not.

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

I read Flowers in the Attic when it came out and it troubled me so much that I have avoided V.C. Andrews books ever since. But I thought it was time to give her another shot.

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

It was well written but I found the subject matter not to my taste. I did finish & the main character's situation could have been much worse but the neglect & abuse of children is not easy to read about for me.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

Perhaps, depending on what kind of books they like.

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

Alannah I’m glad you enjoyed my recommendation. It really is one that stays with you.

Gemma wrote: "Alannah I’m glad you enjoyed my recommendation. It really is one that stays with you."

It certainly is, I don't think you have given me a bad one yet.

1. Raul recommended Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories.

2. Although this is on my to-read shelf. And I have been wanting to read a short story collection, and wanting something written in a different time period, I likely wouldn’t have gotten to this book. It isn’t an easy choice. You need to consciously make an effort to find and finish this one.

3. Never read anything by this author. At first it seemed similar to Alice Munro but the characters were more miserable.

4. Firstly, I am glad I was recommended this book. I appreciated how it challenged me.

This book could be called “everything that rises will go wrong: a collection of Doom, despair, bigotry, prejudice.”

When this book was recommended to me all started out well. But... it was too much for me. I appreciated insight in to the deep USA south of the 50s and am glad this was a visit and not where I live. There were just twice as many stories as I could handle.

5. Perhaps I would recommend this if the right person came along. It isn’t for everyone.

6. I love recommendation swap.

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

Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai recommended to me by Tamara.

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?

Yes, it is the kind of book I like.

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?

It was wonderful, brilliantly written prose based on reflections by the characters of their past as they try to come to terms with their sense of disillusionment.


5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?

It depends on whether the person is willing to read books that aren't fast paced. If they are then yes.

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

Yes.

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

Carrie recommended to me The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2. Would you have read the book ordinarily?
I think so.

3. Have you read anything by the same author before – if so what have you read?
No, not yet.

4. What did you think of the book you were
I thought the book was very good. I enjoyed it a lot and gave it four stars. The way the story unfolds was very interesting and I really wanted to read on.
I didn’t rate it five stars, cause I reserve that normally for books I also value a lot as for the style. Also I noticed the novel didn’t move me very much emotionally -contrary to other novels on this subject. So a very good book, but not something that lasts for me. (This is not necessary, I just mention this cause of the hype)

Thank you for the recommendation.

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else?
Yes, I would to people who like a good story and/or interested in historical fiction.

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

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

Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai recommended to me by Tamara.

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

Raul, I'm so glad you read it and enjoyed it. I liked your review.

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

Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai recommended to me by Tamara.

2. Would you have read t..."

Thank you for recommending it, I was going to read the other book you recommended Plainsong by Kent Haruf (which I still plan on reading) but someone leant me Clear Light of Day and I really liked it, so thank you.

You're welcome! I think you'll enjoy Plainsong, too.

This thread was buried so some might have posted their review elsewhere. Love Recommendation Swap.

Lauri recommended The Clan of the Cave Bear

Dozens of people have recommended this book to me over the years and it was on my To-read list but I’m not certain I would have gotten to it without This swap since I still hadn’t read it!

I LOVED THE BOOK!!! The ending broke my heart and now I feel like some of my family has left me behind. So good. I would definitely recommend. And I plan to read the other books she suggested.

I would love to do the next swap.

I was recommended A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

Yes I am late to the party. I never had any interest in reading this series. The TV adaption was too graphic for me. Well, the bits I saw. But then I read a sample of the enhanced edition, and saw there were historical facts behind the series. And the writing was so so good. The beauty so far, is I don’t know many of the spoilers. Other than knowing that favorite characters die, that is all I knew. So I have thoroughly enjoyed the book.


This is my first but not last book by George R.R. Martin. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. And highly recommend. Now I know the series is unfinished and this has been a major bugbear for most of the fans. But this should not be a deterrent. A word of warning, this is a book where you have to pay attention or you will miss vital clues. Luckily the foreshadowing is not subtle. Yet, the author still throws some curveballs. And all my favorite characters are still alive, I think.

Thank you Alannah. This was a great recommendation. To be honest I have always gotten great reads from this swap and definitely will be continuing.

Just finished An Unnecessary Woman recommended to me by Tamara.

I had seen the book in the library but had forgotten about it and it had never made it onto my TBR. But as soon as I was recommended it I was intrigued as it is set in Beirut and follows the musings of an anti-social older woman who translates novels into arabic.

I've not read or heard of any other books by the author before. Definitely now interested to see what his other works are like.

I really enjoyed the writing style of Rabih Alameddine. It was well-crafted and lyrical. However, there were a lot of literary references and many didn't mean much to me as I hadn't read the books. But did get the references to Anna Karenina (which I'm currently reading). I felt like the story read like a stream-of-consciousness novel which I haven't read much before. At times I felt a little bit lost as we went off on a tangent. But overall enjoyed the reading experience.

Thanks again to Tamara for the recommendation :) Will definitely be back again for the swap in the future.

Erica wrote: "Just finished An Unnecessary Woman recommended to me by Tamara.

I had seen the book in the library but had forgotten about it and it had never made it onto my TBR. But as soon as ..."

Great! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

This book was on my list but I never got to it until now.
It’s a great historical fiction and would recommend to others.
Thanks, Julia for the suggestion!

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

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

I've written it down on my TBR list!

I read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, recommended to me by Jennifer. I'd heard a lot about the book. It was an enjoyable, "feel-good" book.

Thanks to Jennifer for recommending it.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kelly - I'm glad you enjoyed it.