All About Books discussion

Please discuss our group winner here.
If you have already read this book, please feel free to let us what you think of this one.

I gave this 5 stars and three hearts after listening to it on audiobook. It was the number one novel I read in 2016. I thought that the narrator suited the book extremely well.

Karin wrote: "I gave this 5 stars and three hearts after listening to it on audiobook. It was the number one novel I read in 2016. I thought that the narrator suited the book extremely well."

I think I must have bought after I had seen it was the number one book, I never got around to reading it. I definitely will for this group read.

Fabulous book - 5 star read for me... you are all in for a treat reading this amazing book 📚 😍

Paulette wrote: "Fabulous book - 5 star read for me... you are all in for a treat reading this amazing book 📚 😍"

That is great to hear Paulette, I honestly can't believe it's slipped under my radar.

I was lucky to win a copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway. Five stars and I passed it on to several reading friends who all enjoyed it as much as I did.

Evelyn wrote: "I was lucky to win a copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway. Five stars and I passed it on to several reading friends who all enjoyed it as much as I did."

This is making me more excited to read it now.

This was a 4 star book for me. It wasn't a fabulous WW2 story (we all know what books those are) but I found it unique and well-told. There was huge hype on this book, but I didn't love/love/love it. I do recommend it and will check back on more specific thoughts.

Colleen wrote: "This was a 4 star book for me. It wasn't a fabulous WW2 story (we all know what books those are) but I found it unique and well-told. There was huge hype on this book, but I didn't love/love/love i..."

That's good to hear Colleen. Thank you for sharing.

I've read it some years ago. Liked it, not loved. I'll give a look at what you say ...

This was a 4.5 star rating for me. I remember loving every minute of reading it. I'll watch this thread with interest.

I finished it last year. It was a delightful read. I rated it as 4 stars and will be looking forward to your reviews :)

Just started this, quite an interesting start. I've really been drawn in.

I loved this book. Doerr's prose evoking the sights, smells and sounds of pre-war and war-time France and Germany is exquisite. Doerr's sentences are often very short but always lyrically expressive. His words are invariably colorfully detailed, even although the reality he is portraying is often of darkly terrible events.

I loved this novel too. I've read it twice already otherwise I'd definitely join this group read.

I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great.

B the BookAddict wrote: "I loved this novel too. I've read it twice already otherwise I'd definitely join this group read."

I'm just going to discuss it and not reread it because I have such a pile and I remember it quite well.

Alannah wrote: "I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great."

Interesting--I liked the narrator a great deal most of the time and thought his reading suited the book. I just didn't like how he pronounced Marie-Claire.

Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great."

Interesting--I liked the narrator a great deal mo..."

I struggled to hear and understand him, I found myself not bothering to try and listen at times.

Alannah wrote: "Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great."

Interesting--I liked the narrator a..."

Tastes vary so much! I listened in the van as I drove and found him easy to understand and to hear, but if I had had trouble hearing or understanding, that would ruined it for me as well.

Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great."

Interesting--I like..."

I still gave it four stars however, I still enjoyed it. I probably would have given it five if it wasn't for the narrator. I do have the kindle version so it hasn't put me off reading it but it will be towards the end of the month before I get a chance.

I finished it yesterday. I thought it was great. I gave it five stars and will post my review shortly.

Alannah wrote: "Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "Karin wrote: "Alannah wrote: "I'm about three quarters of the way through, got it on audiobook which I feel was a bad decision, the narrator is not that great."

Inter..."

Excellent. And I agree that if a narrator is off-putting in any way it can detract from a book and lower its score for me as well.

I read the paper version and remember feeling mesmerised by the story. I didn't want it to end.

B the BookAddict wrote: "I read the paper version and remember feeling mesmerised by the story. I didn't want it to end."

Me, too. I thought it was a real page-turner.

B the BookAddict wrote: "I...remember feeling mesmerised by the story. I didn't want it to end."

So true for me

I just finished it, and enjoyed it. Clearly it is a fast read. I will post my review shortly.

I’m still waiting for a copy from the library - apparently quite a few book clubs are reading it.

I read it a few years ago and remember loving the story but thinking it could’ve ended when the war ended. It would’ve been a better stopping point for me. But, I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

I loved it. It was a great way for me to start the month.
My 5-star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pam wrote: "I read it a few years ago and remember loving the story but thinking it could’ve ended when the war ended. It would’ve been a better stopping point for me. But, I still thoroughly enjoyed it!"

I thought the same thing for a while, but then I decided that the ending was actually appropriate -(view spoiler)[anticlimactic, as of course the aftermath of war would seem, and with the realization that life goes on... maybe not the way we hoped or intended, but it still goes on. (hide spoiler)]

I wrote a short review here.

I read this last year and loved it.

My Review

It was long but worth it. As I said in my review, who am I to venture an opinion on a Pulitzer winner, but of course that didn't stop me! :)

Here were my thoughts a few years ago.
Link to my review

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

While I liked this book and admired the writing, as my review indicates, I just couldn't generate the enthusiasm which most other readers appear to have felt. I really wonder why we still need to return to WW2 for inspiration.

Pam wrote: "I read it a few years ago and remember loving the story but thinking it could’ve ended when the war ended. It would’ve been a better stopping point for me. But, I still thoroughly enjoyed it!"

I can see your point, but personally liked the bit extra.

My review:

5 stars and 3 hearts

Thank you for sharing your review, after reading it I definitely feel like I'm missing something having the book on audiobook. I'm definitely going to give my kindle copy a try.

At the minute, my rating is based on listening to the audiobook version.

Alannah wrote: "Thank you for sharing your review, after reading it I definitely feel like I'm missing something having the book on audiobook. I'm definitely going to give my kindle copy a try."

And yet I LOVED the audio! But if you don't, move to print for sure. My rating was improved by the audio and Alannah's was lowered by it :), but of course different people will enjoy different narrators. I've also been in situations where the audiobook that others loved was ruining the book for me.