All About Books discussion

Alice wrote: "Oh, OK, Chrissie, I'm sorry you are not liking it. Different books suit different tastes. I hadn't read anything about the Jewish religion or the history of the Jewish community in China and found ..."

After only having visited Europe on our recent trip to China I found the Chinese attitude to Jewish people refreshingly relaxing (We had a lovely visit to the Shanghai synagogue) so I will be adding this to my TBR list.

Leslie wrote: "Esther wrote: "I have finished Persuasion which was great. Now I want to see the 1995 film and the 2007 film to contrast and compare (and also to wallow in the costumes, the dialogue an..."

Only a few pages in but enjoying it so far. So much in fact that I didn't notice my train pulling into the station! Luckily my son was with me or I might not have made it home.

Alice, I have given Peony three stars.I ended up liking it. I think the book gets better and better as you go. My copy had an interesting afterword written by Wendy R: Abraham about the history of Jews in China which offers an excellent addition to the book.

Chrissie wrote: "Alice, I have given Peony three stars.I ended up liking it. I think the book gets better and better as you go. My copy had an interesting afterword written by Wendy R: Abraham about..."

Chrissie, I'm glad you ended up liking the book! Yes, the edition I read has that Afterword. I found Wendy Abraham's comments enlightening, especially the fact that the actual history of the Jews in China dates back to the 8th century, and that the first synagogue was built in 1163!

I'm currently reading How to Stop Time by Matt Haig. It's good so far.

Esther wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Esther wrote: "I have finished Persuasion which was great. Now I want to see the 1995 film and the 2007 film to contrast and compare (and also to wallow in the costumes, ..."

HaHa, it’s a good thing he was there to keep an eye in you.

Re: Persuasion, the edition I have includes two slightly different endings. Apparently both were found in Jane Austen’s papers.
Do your editions include the alternative ending (view spoiler)[ which does not involve Anne and Wentworth resolving their affair at the gathering at Mrs. Musgroves hotel room, though they do end up getting back together (hide spoiler)]

Beneath the Waterby Sarah Painter

Yesterday, I started listening to The Unseen, set in Norway and narrated by Rachel Beresford. She put me to sleep, so I have started the whole thing over again this morning. Her tone is like a song that drones on steadily, without any ups and downs.. The words are hard to distinguish, but you must pay attention because a lot is said in just a few words.

Several of us in the group are reading this together.

Alice wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "Alice, I have given Peony three stars.I ended up liking it. I think the book gets better and better as you go. My copy had an interesting afterword written by Wendy..."

In my view the history added is important in understanding Buck's original book. I know you know that for me three stars is a book I like and can recommend to others. I am certainly glad I read the book.

Joan wrote: "Re: Persuasion, the edition I have includes two slightly different endings. Apparently both were found in Jane Austen’s papers.
Do your editions include the alternative en..."

No. How interesting, particulary that scene is one of the famous in the book.

I hadn’t realized it was a famous scene. I’ve always felt that it didn’t really work well - it was too contrived. I was pleased to see that Austen struggled with how to bring about the end as well.

I’m reading Master and Commander with my husband. He is enjoying it, but I’m finding it heavy going. Thank goodness for Google so I can look up the jargon.

Joan wrote: "I’m reading Master and Commander with my husband. He is enjoying it, but I’m finding it heavy going. Thank goodness for Google so I can look up the jargon."

So many praise that book, but I have been VERY hesitant. In fact I am happy to hear that you find it "heavy going"; because that is how I think I would react.

I want to read more byJohn Banville, so I have picked up Eclipse. So far, I do not understand the central protagonist, but I am just beginning.

I am reading too many things at once! But I can't figure out which one to stop reading so I will have to hurry up and finish one or two...

I am reading short stories by Wodehouse (library book) - Plum Pie. I am continuing to read Infinite Jest in our readalong.

In addition, I am reading Tom Brown's Schooldays, which I am finding less fun than I expected but not bad, a historical fiction mystery which has been too long on my TBR - Jester Leaps In, and I just started the 6th book in Proust's Remembrance of Lost Time series, The Sweet Cheat Gone.

And last night when I was having trouble falling asleep, I started the audiobook of the first book in The Wheel of Time series, The Eye of the World.

I'm starting 2 short story collections from the library : The Angel Esmeralda by Don DeLillo and Paycheck and Other Classic Stories by Philip K. Dick. I also started Penguin Island by Anatole France, which I've had on my bookshelf for years. It's a beautiful hardback, illustrated edition. I would like to be able to tell my brother, who gifted it to me, that I finally read it!

Leslie wrote: "I am reading too many things at once! But I can't figure out which one to stop reading so I will have to hurry up and finish one or two...

I am reading short stories by Wodehouse (library book) - ..."

I feel guilty about the Proust series because I took such a long break after the second one. Hopefully I'll get back to it next month.

Just started reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Raul,
I don’t think reading Shirley Jackson is a good idea if you are feeling guilty already :-)

Joan wrote: "Raul,
I don’t think reading Shirley Jackson is a good idea if you are feeling guilty already :-)"

Don't I know it Joan! But after reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle I just had to read The Haunting of Hill House :)

Having enjoyed If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor, I have wanted to read more by the author. I have decided to try So Many Ways to Begin next.

Leslie wrote: "dely wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I was at my local library yesterday & they had the cutest promotion going on: a blind date with a book in honor of Valentine's day!

Members of the library staff had pic..."

My library is trying “Blind Date with a Book”, too.
I just picked up mine, The Man Who Watched Trains Go By.
The blurb on the back describes it as bleak, pitiless yet wonderfully entertaining,”; I’m not sure how that works.

Maybe for those who don't like mushy, romantic valentine love stories. That is kind of funny Joan.

Starting Anatomy of a Miracle

Diane , hope it’s a good one . It’s in my queue.

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning. So far, I'm really enjoying it.

I've started Twilight In Djakarta for my tour around the world. This is set in Indonesia and written by an Indonesian author.

I'm reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. I like it till now though nothing mindblowing.

dely wrote: "I'm reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. I like it till now though nothing mindblowing."

I liked the books message.

Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "I'm reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. I like it till now though nothing mindblowing."

I liked the books message."

I want to wait till the end to see if one of the two characters changes his mind and life (if they will because maybe both continue with their lives and opinions without changing anything).

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "dely wrote: "I'm reading Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. I like it till now though nothing mindblowing."

I liked the books message."

I want to wa..."

You'll see, but for me it was the philosophical themes that drew me, not the religious ones.

Chrissie wrote: "You'll see, but for me it was the philosophical themes that drew me, not the religious ones. "

I have finished the book and all in all I'm glad that (view spoiler)[none of both the characters changed their way of living (hide spoiler)]. I'm still thinking about it so I still don't know how to rate it. I liked it and I liked a lot Zorba though I can see that I am more like the other character, the narrator. So I'm still here thinking about it understanding the behaviour of the narrator but rooting for Zorba.

I like that we are given both characters that contrast with each other.

Chrissie wrote: "I like that we are given both characters that contrast with each other."

Yes, me too. At the end I decided for 3* because though I liked it, at the end I had the feeling that the author wanted to persuade the reader that Zorba's way of living is the right one. I think instead that there isn't a right or wrong way, and that everyone has to find his way of living. However a book I would recommend to other readers that haven't read it yet.

I have written only an Italian review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

dely wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I like that we are given both characters that contrast with each other."

Yes, me too. At the end I decided for 3* because though I liked it, at the end I had the feeling that the ..."

I liked it a lot and so gave it four.

Chrissie wrote: "I liked it a lot and so gave it four. "

Did you have the feeling too that the author wanted to show that Zorba's way of living is better? Or is it only me that had this feeling? Not a strong feeling, but more like in the background.

I do think the author favored Zorba's way of living, but I do NOT think he pushed this on readers. A reader can think whatever they want. By giving us both he shows a contrast, and this gives one food for thought.

Angela M wrote: "Diane , hope it’s a good one . It’s in my queue."

Very wordy Angela but I do like it.

Chrissie wrote: "I do think the author favored Zorba's way of living, but I do NOT think he pushed this on readers. A reader can think whatever they want. By giving us both he shows a contrast, and this gives one f..."

Exactly, the author doesn't push the reader, but in the background I could feel that he was on Zorba's side.

I have just begun Catherine Carmier. I wanted to try another by the author Ernest J. Gaines, having previously liked The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.

Now I am going to read a book consisting of a novella and six stories. I certainly am stretching my usual reading zone, BUT it just looks to good to miss: Where the Rivers Flow North

Started, not at all convinced since spy stories are not my piece of cake usually, Stamboul Train by Graham Greene. I'm one third through and up to now not bad at all ...

I'm reading The Death of Ivan Ilych.

I am reading Arriving: 1909-1919. It is both the first in a trilogy and the author's debut novel. It is about a family of German Lutheran pioneers who settled in Saskatchewan, Canada. While the dialogue is quite stilted and formal, the story is very compelling and I am having a hard time putting it down. Thankfully today is a statutory holiday here and the outside temperature is -27C (-17F) with a windchill of -36C (-33F) so it is a perfect day to stay inside and read.

Eveylyn, brrrrrrrr.

Yes Chrissie, and yet I still went out today. The sky is so blue, not a cloud in it, sun shining brightly and down by the river the steam was billowing off the water and had covered the trees in thick hoar frost. It was a sparkly wonderland ❄️

Marina wrote: "I'm reading The Death of Ivan Ilych."

Loved it!

Started Hour Glass.

Evelyn wrote: "Yes Chrissie, and yet I still went out today. The sky is so blue, not a cloud in it, sun shining brightly and down by the river the steam was billowing off the water and had covered the trees in th..."

Sounds utterly gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

I will restart The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter today. I hope I'm able to stick with it this time.