Coffee & Books discussion
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What are you reading?
Let It Snow – Nancy Thayer – 3***
Thayer writes a lovely, quick romance set against a charming backdrop of Christmas in Nantucket. The characters are mostly straight out of central casting, but I’m not complaining. I read these books because they are comfort food. I know exactly what I’m in for and I’m happy to get it.
My full review HERE
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict – Laurie Viera Rigler – 2**
I should have read the book jacket and put the book aside. This was just ridiculous on so many levels, and Courtney was a total idiot whom I wanted to slap on about every other page. At least it was a fast read, and mildly entertaining.
My full review HERE
Christine wrote: "Book Concierge I never read any of those Nancy Thayer books"This is (so far) the only book by Thayer that I've read. My comment was more about "holiday romance" books in general.
Planting Stories – Anika Aldamuy Denise – 5***** and a ❤
Subtitle: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré. This picture book biography is marvelously illustrated by Paola Escobar. The story is simple enough for children to absorb, but detailed enough to engage an adult.
My full review HERE
Book Concierge I didn’t know that it was the only Nancy Thayer book that you read and Book Concierge I love reading holiday romance books
I just finished reading a book in French about a young man (19 years old) who is in a car crash and is found brain dead at the hospital. This is a story about organ transplants (kidneys, liver, lungs and heart). The story of each character (his family and friends, the doctors and nurses taking care of him and taking his organs) is very good, but there were very long (that is the way it felt to me) parts of text in between the characters which felt to me like distractions: poetic words with lots of metaphores, references to mythology... it just made me feel like I was thrown out of the story. For that reason I gave it 3*.My full review in French is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
JUST TO ALERT EVERYONE - World Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd and at this posting there are 7 days left to download from Amazon FREE Kindle books by international authors from 9 countries - Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, China, Germany, Israel, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina! And there is an international Amazon site to click if you are ordering from outside the United States.The link: https://www.amazon.com/article/read-t...
Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "JUST TO ALERT EVERYONE - World Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd and at this posting there are 7 days left to download from Amazon FREE Kindle books by international authors from 9 countries - T..."Thank you so much Elizabeth. I didn't know about this.
I knew about World Book Day especially since it's my birthday ;-) The first time it was "celebrated" my book store offered a rose with to each costumer who purchased a book! But I did not know about this year's Kindle free offer. Thanks a lot. :-)
An American Marriage – Tayari Jones – 4****
This is a marvelous character-driven study of relationships, in the broader context of modern society’s inability to grant a Black man the basic premise of “innocent until proven guilty.” Despite this great injustice, the central focus is really the characters’ lack of communication and honesty with one another. My loyalties shifted back and forth between Celestial and Roy as they took turns narrating the story. I think it would be a great choice for a book-club discussion.
My full review HERE
Margot wrote: "Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "JUST TO ALERT EVERYONE - World Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd and at this posting there are 7 days left to download from Amazon FREE Kindle books by international autho..."You're welcome, Margot - and wishing you a happy birthday!
As Nature Made Him – John Colapinto – 5*****
Subtitle: The Boy Who Was Raised As a Girl. This made me so angry! The unmitigated arrogance and superior attitude of Dr John Money made me want to hunt him down and do an experiment on HIM! In writing the book, Colapinto did an excellent job of researching the various players in this tragedy. He provides considerable background on the development of sexual/gender identity theory, including interviews with many researchers and reporting from numerous professional journals. I think the book is balanced and truthful. I applaud David Reimer for the way he managed to survive the horror that was his childhood.
My full review HERE
Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "Margot wrote: "Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "JUST TO ALERT EVERYONE - World Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd and at this posting there are 7 days left to download from Amazon FREE Kindle books by inte..."Thanks! :-)
Kate wrote: "The Secret History by Donna Tartt"I so loved that book. I don't remember the details, I think that's good, it means I can read again ;-) Enjoy the ride!
Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "Margot wrote: "Elizabeth A.G. wrote: "JUST TO ALERT EVERYONE - World Book Day is celebrated on April 23rd and at this posting there are 7 days left to download from Amazon FREE Kindle books by inte..."Thank you Elizabeth! I live alone, so there won't be any celebration. But I don't mind as long as I have a book and my knitting! ;-)
Kate wrote: "The Secret History by Donna Tartt"Excellent book!
Ahab’s Wife – Sena Jeter Neslund – 4****
Melville’s classic Moby Dick contains perhaps three or four sentences that reference Ahab’s wife, but those brief references were enough to inspire Neslund to write this tome. Una is a marvelous character: intelligent, forthright, adventurous, principled, loyal and loving. The novel takes her from her childhood in rural Kentucky to her later years in Massachusetts. Along the way she encounters many colorful characters, from slaves to judges, but make no mistake, the story is Una’s, first and foremost.
My full review HERE
Blue Asylum – Kathy Hepinstall – 2**
Iris Dunleavy is confined to a Florida island asylum for the obvious madness she exhibited in defying her husband. Perhaps Hepinstall was trying to give the reader a sense of the disorientation a truly sane person must feel in such a mandated confinement. If that was her intention, then she mostly succeeded. But, like Iris, I just wanted to escape.
My full review HERE
Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. It’s a good book.
Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson .
Pies and Prejudice – Ellery Adams – 2**
I’ve been drawn to this basic premise – food’s magical qualities – since reading Citra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Mistress of Spices. I’ve read other series books by Adams as well, and enjoyed them. But she really missed the mark here. Ella Mae is just too clueless, and the cast of “eccentric” characters just too over-the-top. Thank heavens it was a fast read.
My full review HERE
Good evening! Just finished Baseball Is A Funny Game (1960) by Joe Garagiola (1926-2016), a memoir about his playing days as a member of both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now reading a public domain e-book, Beethoven Letters 1790-1826 Volume 1 (compiled 1866) by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).
Montana Sky – Nora Roberts – 3***
A schlocky cowboy romance with some fun sex scenes. The romance was more than enough to hold our attention, with sibling rivalry and the push/pull attractions between the couples entertaining enough to keep even this curmudgeonly reader turning pages. And I did love picturing all those rippling muscles on the big, strong men! But that serial killer subplot! Totally unnecessary.
My full review HERE
With confinement and living alone, I try to go take a walk outside every day, but I don't really enjoy walking always the same streets especially with no purpose (I enjoy it more if it's because I am going to a coffee shop with my book or my knitting... But I started taking my iPod with my audiobooks on it. I have great earphones so that helps.I finished this book in no time, because I had to finish it... there are two narrators, a man and a woman. The man was terrible at imitating a woman's voice and the woman tried an italian accent which I found horrible. So I was in a hurry to finish it. I walked a lot more which is good!
My full review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mary wrote: "Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain. It’s a good book."Ooh, I just recently read via audio The Dream Daughter. My first of her books and I loved it! Now I want to read more - will add this to my TBR! Thanks!
The Only Road – Alexandra Diaz – 5***** and a ❤
This is a powerful story of twelve-year-old Jaime and his fifteen-year-old cousin Angela’s harrowing journey from their village in Guatemala to El Paso Texas as they flee gang warfare. They face many dangers on this long journey, but find within themselves the courage, tenacity, inventiveness and compassion they need to see them through. I loved these characters. Very well told young adult novel without graphic violence but still giving a sense of the real dangers such refugees face. Both heart-breaking and inspiring.
My full review HERE
Book Concierge wrote: " The Only Road
– Alexandra Diaz – 5***** and a ❤
This is a powerful story of twelve-year-old Jaime and his fifteen-year-old cousin Angela’s harrowing journey ..."
Thank you for this, I am going to get it right away (I have a few credits available).
The Preacher’s Daughter – Beverly Lewis – 2**
I think Lewis does have a knack for exploring the Amish and Mennonite cultures, and contrasting their perspectives against those of modern-day America. I’m glad she gives voice to people who struggle with the basic tenets of faith and a way of life that may not completely suit them. However, I think Lewis’s ambitions got away from her. There is just too much going on in this novel and none of if it satisfactorily explored.
My full review HERE
The Gown – Jennifer Robson – 3.5***
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: A Novel of the Royal Wedding. Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Phillip Mountbatten, that is. I really liked the friendship between Ann, the scrappy Brit, and Miriam, the French immigrant who had survived the Nazis. However, the dual timeline has become the latest fad in historical fiction and I’m over it. Nevertheless, the story captured and held my attention.
My full review HERE
The Gift of Rain – Tan Twan Eng – 5*****
Historical fiction set in Malaya during World War II. The 15-year-old main character, youngest son of an established British family, comes of age in a very unsettling time, and becomes the unwitting accomplice to a Japanese spy. The writing is atmospheric and poetic. The characters are complex and nuanced. I was on the edge of my seat in certain scenes. And Eng managed to have me empathize with all sides at one time or another.
My full review HERE
Just started Covet by J.R. Ward
Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option.
Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. And then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.
I just finished reading Snjór and I loved it. This is the first book in a series (there are 4 up until now) and it's about police work, but also about life in a very small town at the top north of Iceland. It took a while to read it. First, probably because it starts quite slow, but also because I was knitting socks for a friend's birthday and unfortunately I cannot read and knit at the same time...
You can find my complete review here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just started ‘The Witches of St. Petersburg’. So far I’m enjoying it, however some of the names are difficult to pronounce since I don’t read/speak Russian.
I finished my book called The Stranger's Wife by Anna-Lou Weatherley and I finished my book called Never Goodbye by Adam Mitzner and I finished my book called A Conflict of Interest by Adam Mitzner and I finished my book called Until I Find You by Rea Frey and I finished my book called The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell and I finished my book called Marrying The Northbridge Nanny by Victoria Pade
Just about halfway through Covet by J.R. Ward. Enjoying a lot more than I thought I would, it's been on my nightstand for almost a year and I'm kicking myself for not picking it up earlier."Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charged with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option.
Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough-talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. And then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul. "
Coffee & Books
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Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin – 4****
A classic of gay literature explores the coming of age of a young American living in Paris in the 1950s. Baldwin’s writing is evocative and atmospheric. His characters are well drawn and reveal their strengths and weaknesses through their thoughts and actions. David’s struggles to be true to himself while living the life he feels is expected of him leads to tragedy. I feel for all these characters as their dreams and aspirations are slowly destroyed. I can only hope that after this story ends, David finds some happiness in his life.
My full review HERE