Book Nook Cafe discussion

RE: Stephen King--it's funny, but his stuff doesn't scare me. And I say this as a person who refuses to watch horror movies (I have never watched any of the "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" movies, for instance) because they scare the living daylights out of me. I think it's because King's work has so much fantasy intertwined within it. So in my head, I can tell myself that it isn't real and it could never happen. (A clown that lives in the sewer and eats small children? Not happening!) I scared myself way more when I became fascinated with the psychology of the criminal mind (who are these people? and what motivates them? are they born this way, or are they made?) and read a bunch of books about serial killers like Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, the Night Stalker and the Hillside Stranglers. I couldn't sleep for weeks. Finally had to physically remove the books from my house!

Meredith wrote: "I read two books in February

Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn
Rating 3/5

This book was well written but I found it disturbing. I will not run out to read other books by thi..."

I just finished this on audio. By the time I was done, I thought the whole plot ended up being a bit over the top crazy. But it was entertaining for driving home from work.

Meredith wrote: "I read two books in February

Gone Girlby Gillian Flynn
Rating 3/5

This book was well written but I found it disturbing. I will not run out to read other books by thi..."


I read her novel Dark Places and found it disturbing as well. Nonetheless, I'm next on my library's waiting list for the one (& others here) you read. Looking forward to it, thinking a two year break will be adequate.

I finished 6 books in February, only because I only finished 1 in January. Do you ever have that happen? :)

Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid Into College Love non-fiction books and can read them so much quicker than fiction for some reason. He's an author by trade and is given a wake up call that he started getting his son into colleges "late" by today's standards. He added quite a bit of research to the book but didn't make it feel like I needed to remember all the facts but the general idea around it. Liked it a lot. 3 stars

Five Days in November
I love books about the Kennedy's and not sure why. This book is written by Jackie's secret service agent covering the 5 days around when JFK was assassinated. Quick and easy read. Love how much he loved the family. It really did come through in the book for me. 4 stars.

Early Decision: Based on a True Frenzy
Another book on college acceptances. Not sure why they are attracting me right now, but they are. My son is only 7th grade so this is not on our radar at all now. This gal helps affluent children get into the college of their choice and offers guidance and advice of the realities of getting in to the kids and their parents. The author tried to weave the gal's personal life into the mix but it just didn't work. Very choppy in that regard. I wish she would have just kept with the college part. 3 stars (I loved the information but I didn't think the book itself was fantastic)

The Husband's Secret
I read this book in a couple days. Loved it! It grabbed me right away and I thought it was one secret and it wasn't. I loved that it wasn't the obvious ones. 4 stars (I heard the author's other book What Alice Forgot is even better so I requested that from the library.)

Dream When You're Feeling Blue
Cute, sweet, simple read. I haven't read anything by Elizabeth Berg before. I would read more in the future. Lots of reviews said they didn't like the ending which I can agree with. I think the author could have done a better job ending the book. She did a horrible job tying it together. It felt like "oh crap, I have to finish it" and wrote something down and called it good." 3 stars

Where'd You Go, Bernadette
Recommended to me by a friend and I liked this book a lot. It made me laugh and I have good thoughts and memories of it but for some reason I still rate it a 3 stars. Maybe it should be 3.5. :)

Amy wrote: "Portia wrote: "I agree that Gone Girl is disturbing but Ifound it riveting and a fast read."

Me too! I read it over a single weekend--couldn't put it down."

Thirded! I don't really know WHY I wanted to read it so fast, but I finished it within 24 hours.

I managed another 4 books in February, same as January. It is not like me to be this uniform! If I carry on in this fashion I will be done with my reading goal by October. I have put full reviews and other comments in my Determination List thread, so this is a shorthand version. Here's what I read:

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris - my first five star read of the year. Hilarious and irreverent, I loved almost every one of these essays and how they mostly all linked together under the subject of communication, literal and subconscious. I like to hear about Sedaris's somewhat wacky family, but the best part of this book was when he moves to France and had to learn the language. Highly recommended - FIVE STARS.

Doctor Sleep by Stephen King - a very up and down, on/off kind of book. I don't think it helped that The Shining is a lifetime favourite of mine, but in any case I felt the central story was not that strong and not at all scary. Much more effective were the parts involving Dan Torrance and his demons past and present. These were both scary and engrossing, but unfortunately did not make up enough of the book. After thinking a bit more about how I felt about this book I down-marked it to THREE STARS.

Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy - this book was great for the most part and eloquently argued a view I have long held. It wasn't perfect and one or two of the chapters felt out of place, but the majority of it was interesting, well written and so very TRUE! Another one I would recommend. FOUR STARS

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut - this was a rather strange story with a million points to make. The satire in this novel is so on-point and bitingly accurate and there are so many metaphors to unpick that I am still running through them in my mind; I'm not even quite there yet. It sent me off to find context and look up other views on it, which I hardly ever do. The more I think about this book the clearer and more impressive it becomes. And I LOVED the meaning of the Cat's Cradle, it just blew me away. FOUR STARS.

Gjscollins wrote: "I finished 6 books in February, only because I only finished 1 in January. Do you ever have that happen? :)

Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid Into College Love no..."

Gjscollins, you and I are reading the same books!! I also recently finished "Crazy U" and "Early Decision" in the past few months. (And I'm just about to start "The Husband's Secret" for my f2f book club.) I am currently obsessed with books about college admissions--I have one son who is a college sophomore and another son who is a high school senior (and who is awaiting the decisions on his college applications right now.) I feel like I've been immersed in the college admissions experience for four or five years straight now! LOL. Maybe after my youngest son is settled in the college of his choice this fall I can move away from this particular genre. Although since I also work at a university, I can't ever get away from it entirely. ;)

And also? In a few years when your son is older and you start thinking about college, let me know and I can give you some tips about how to survive the experience. :)

I hope that my March will make up for the fact that while I read a lot I did not finish one book in February. So I have lots in progress.

Madrano wrote: "I read her novel Dark Places and found it disturbing as well. Nonetheless, I'm next on my library's waiting list for the one (& others here) you read..."

After reading "Gone Girl," I ran out and picked up Sharp Objects, another one of Flynn's books. It was very disturbing and made me slightly squeamish. As entertained as I was by "Gone Girl," "Sharp Objects" made me shy away from "Dark Places." I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that one yet.

Gjscollins wrote: "I finished 6 books in February, only because I only finished 1 in January. Do you ever have that happen? :)

Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid Into College Love no..."

Elizabeth Berg used to be one of my very fave authors. She had the uncanny ability to make the reader feel as if they knew the characters well and that they lived between the pages. I loved her earlier books like Range of Motion, Talk Before Sleep and my very fave book, The Pull of the Moon. Unfortunately, while I still read her books they don't hold the same feelings I once had for this author or her plots.

Gjscollins wrote: "I finished 6 books in February, only because I only finished 1 in January. Do you ever have that happen? :)
.."

Great reading month, GJCollins !

Your post makes two people who are recommending Where'd You Go, Bernadette

I am always looking for good books on the Presidents. I've added Five Days in November to my list. Thank you !

Soph wrote:Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut - this was a rather strange story with a million points to make. The satire in this novel is so on-point and bitingly accurate and there are so many metaphors to unpick that I am still running through them in my mind; I'm not even quite there yet. It sent me off to find context and look up other views on it, which I hardly ever do. The more I think about this book the clearer and more impressive it becomes. And I LOVED the meaning of the Cat's Cradle, it just blew me away. FOUR STARS. ..."

I read CC a long time ago. To be honest I don't recall much of it anymore. If you like the author, many have recommended to me one of his other books,
Breakfast of Champions

Bobbie57 wrote: "I hope that my March will make up for the fact that while I read a lot I did not finish one book in February. So I have lots in progress."

Savor and enjoy. It's not the quantity but the quality. :)

>>>Your post makes two people who are recommending Where'd You Go, Bernadette<<<

Make that three people. Lovely, funny, interesting book

I'm pleased with the number of Vietnam-set books I read in February, as I found they gave insight.

The grave at Thu Le French woman travels to Hanoi to relive some of her ancestor's past. Nice style and flow. I like this line 'a Hanoi doorstep is a child's first chair and an old person's last. 4 stars.

Paradise of the Blind A banned author in Vietnam. A woman deals with everyday family life during the Communist regime. 3 stars.

Bitter Sweets audio. A Bangladeshi woman raised on lies migrates to London where truths eventually surfaces. Light and fluffy, which made it easy to listen to.

The Quiet American A cynical British foreign correspondent working in Saigon meets a quiet naïve American with ulterior motives. I missed something with this one. 2 stars.

Good Morning Hanoi NF. Australian radio presenters return to Hanoi to help with local radio. Not engaging, but with some interesting details of the city. 3 stars.

Matterhorn American soldiers fighting in the jungle in Central Vietnam. Tragic and hard to read at times. 4 stars.

The Beauty of Humanity Movement A poor pho bo soup-maker living in post-war Hanoi. Couldn't connect with characters. 2 stars.

Lesley did you read these before your visit or did you read some while you were there?

Paradise is Blind- Is the book still banned? I wasn't aware that this was done in Vietnam. Do you know the penalty if a person is found with the book ?

I read most before I left, and though I took some with me to read at airports etc, I didn't get much time to do so.

As far as I can gather all of the novels written by Duong Thu Huong are still banned. The tour company I travelled with warned even some guide books (including Lonely Planet guides!) as well as banned books can be taken on entry into the country. I wondered about the penalty too.

Wow! That is a bit scary.

I haven't posted my books read in a while (and I haven't been reading too many books lately, either,) so here is my list for January and February:

U is for Undertow--A typical Kinsey Milhone mystery. Held my interest. 3*

Hanna's Daughters--Not fully satisfying novel about three generations of Swedish women who couldn't seem to find happiness. It saddened me. 3*

True Blue--A fast-paced thriller about a woman who had been a good Washington, D.C. cop, but was framed and spent two years in prison. Pretty implausible in some parts; not my favorite by Balducci. 3*

Imagined London: A Tour of the World's Greatest Fictional City--An interesting book about London's prominence in literary history, and the author's love affair with a city she visited for the first time in the early 2000s. Not as good as I had hoped. 3*

The Burglar in the Rye--Bernie Rhodenbarr is an endearing jewel thief who also owns an antiquarian bookstore. In this story, people are trying to get their hands on letters written by a reclusive author to his literary agent. 4*

Not great reading months, but okay.

Glad to have you back posting your reads, Carolyn.

Thanks for sharing and here is hoping you hit upon a 5 star book real soon.

I had Hanna's Daughters on my TBR, but it was deleted in a clean-out a few years ago.

I didn't read as much as I had planned on my vacation. Guess I was busier than I thought!

We Are All Welcome Here This was just "ok" Started out with some potential, but fizzled for me. Told from the viewpoint of a 13 year old girl who cared for her paralyzed mother. 3/5

Rubber Soul As a lifelong Beatle fan, I loved this book for the most part. A fictionalized account of the very early beginnings of the Beatles. The only part that got tedious for me was when lyrics to Beatle songs were inserted into dialog. If you're not an avid Beatle fan, I'm thinking this probably wouldn't interest you. The writing is pretty sophomoric. 4/5

Saving Sailor: A NovelI didn't realize it until I was finished reading that this was a YA book. I enjoyed it. Perfect for a beach read. Christian book with Christian values portrayed. 4/5

Amy wrote: After reading "Gone Girl," I ran out and picked up Sharp Objects, another one of Flynn's books. It was very disturbing and made me slightly squeamish. As entertained as I was by "Gone Girl," "Sharp Objects" made me shy away from "Dark Places." I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle that one yet. "

After about 50 pages, I put "Sharp Objects" down and sent it off on PBS. VERY disturbing and I have no desire to read any more of her books.

NancyInWI wrote: "I didn't read as much as I had planned on my vacation. Guess I was busier than I thought!

We Are All Welcome Here This was just "ok" Started out with some potential, but fizzled for ..."

Thanks for sharing we us, Nancy. I always take way too many books with me when I go away and never around to reading much.

I think it's just the idea that I might run out of books that makes me nervous. :)

I took only one book...the one I was currently reading when we left. But I took my Kindle Paperwhite which is loaded with books. The only problem I had was which one to read. And then my husband got hold of it and read one of the books, so we were fighting over it! Fortunately, I have the Kindle app on my phone, so if we were inside, I could read that. :-)

NancyInWI wrote: "I took only one book...the one I was currently reading when we left. But I took my Kindle Paperwhite which is loaded with books. The only problem I had was which one to read. And then my husband go..."

:) Yes, the Kindle is good for travel.

Nancy in Wi, i smiled in recognition of your battling over who got the ereader. We did that a bit when we went overseas in 2013 but, ultimately, it was mine, so i pretty much got to decide. Which is probably why he now has his own. *big Smile*

I've offered him my Kindle Fire that I don't use anymore and he doesn't want it. ::sigh:: So, I guess when he wants to use the Paperwhite, I'll use the Fire or my Kindle phone app!
Truth be told, I only read ebooks when traveling some other way than by car. If we go to our cottage, I haul the regular books with me. And I've got a HUGE TBR bookcase of "real" books that I need to read!

NancyInWI wrote: "And I've got a HUGE TBR bookcase of "real" books that I need to read! ..."

I hear ya! One thing i've found myself doing with the ereader is downloading the classics, some of which i have on my "real" bookshelf. All those years they patiently sat, awaiting me reading them. And that's the thanks they get! (I should note here that we are now without a home, so our books are now in storage. But this is a recent development...poor things.

I have finally decided to stop preventing myself from bingeing on Louise Penny. I just finished Bury Your Dead and am right into A Trick of the Light. That says it all as to how much I like her writing :)

Portia wrote: "I have finally decided to stop preventing myself from bingeing on Louise Penny. I just finished Bury Your Dead and am right into A Trick of the Light. That says it ..."

It's terrific to find an author whose writing you love.

Also reading binges don't put any extra pounds around ones middle ! :)

Weeelll, but all that sitting and I start to spread. ;)

lol

Happy for you, Portia.

Not too sure about reading binges not adding to my middle as it has always been hard for me not to snack while reading. I try now to have something to drink -- hopefully water -- nearby, so if I have the urge to put something in my mouth it doesn't cause damage.

Bobbie57 wrote: I try now to have something to drink -- hopefully water -- nearby, so if I have the urge to put something in my mouth it doesn't cause damage.
.."

I don't eat while I read but do drink tea except in summer. Then it's usually ice water or ice tea.

If I do feel like snacking I have no salt pretzels. I don't like to mess my books up with food so pretzels are fine.

Food smudges in books drive me nuts. It's so gross when I get a library book with food blotches. I have to say that is a big benefit to getting eBooks from the library. There is no gross out factor.

Pffft. I just dropped a teenie frozen bagel on a page of the book I'm reading. But it's mine, so I don't have to pay a fine :)

Portia wrote: "Pffft. I just dropped a teenie frozen bagel on a page of the book I'm reading. But it's mine, so I don't have to pay a fine :)"

My own mess doesn't gross me out but other peoples messes do.

Your talking to a person who uses rubbing alcohol on doorknobs, for heaven sakes. Yes, I am a bit of a germaphobe. :-O

If I see one of those programs or article on What are the germy things in your house, it sends me off with the rubbing alcohol for the TV remote, phone, refrig handles, computer mouse etc.

I'm with you, Alias. It grosses me out to see food stains, smudges and crumbs in library books.

Alias, here us a true story. There was a Catholic priest who ministered to the people suffering from leprosy on the island if Molokai. He , Fr. Damien, contracted the disease himself. Mother Marianna Cope, who worked alongside hims, was a hand-washing freak. She died of old age. There is a lesson here.

I wouldn't say I am a freak about hand washing. However, I've made it a habit to do so as soon as I come in the house. I also carry hand sanitizer for when I am out. Okay.... I guess I am a bit of a nut about it. lol

I love my mini hand sanitizer..... I use it ALL the time.

Over 5 years ago, when we lived in Maryland, i seemed to get colds several times a year. After discussing it online with this group, i attached myself to hand sanitizer and washing hands after touching mail, newspapers, anything that came into my home from non-family. And, of course, after coming home from an outing. The result is that i get fewer colds, often only one a year. Believe me, this is Very Good for me. Much of this info was from Alias and Libyrinths, both of whom educated me on how i could protect myself & ease any colds i did get. Hurrah!

Re. food stains in library books. It gives me the creeps, too. However, when i find a smashed mosquito or other small, flighted insect on the pages i am charmed. Probably because it reminds me of a book i read that was written by Monty Python member Terry Jones. (Sorry, GR & i haven't yet figured out why i can't link books/authors.) The book was Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book. Of course mosquitoes aren't fairies, but i liked the notion.

Only one for me. 'I bring the fire'. Excellent modern take on Loki and Norse methology framed in a a modern setting. Very funny too, an excellent read :).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Squashed bugs ! I don't think the word charming comes to mind, Deb. :)

J.G. wrote: "Only one for me. 'I bring the fire'. Excellent modern take on Loki and Norse methology framed in a a modern setting. Very funny too, an excellent read :).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18..."

=============

Thanks for sharing with us, J.G.

An easy way to link to the book is to use the Add Book/Author link you will see on the top of the box you type your reply in.

I Bring the Fire: Part I Wolves
C. Gockel

Alias Reader wrote: "Squashed bugs ! I don't think the word charming comes to mind, Deb. :)"

I guess you had to see the smashed fairies to appreciate the smashed bugs. :-)

I managed to read four books this month. :)

The Man Who Lives with Wolves was a non-fiction book. It had some very neat facts about wolves, and the way they live. It was a little bit clinical though.
Rating: 2/5

The House by Princes Park was an okay story. It was not horrible, but it was not one I would recommend to anybody either.
Rating: 1/5

Last Chance to See: In the Footsteps of Douglas Adams was another non-fiction read. It had a lot of interesting information in it, and some really amazing pictures of rare and at-risk wildlife.
Rating: 2/5

The Zoo That Never Was is yet another non-fiction. It's by a Canadian author, and had some really wonderful stories about adventures with animals in it.
Rating: 4/5

Thanks for going back and giving us your Feb reads, Maggie !