pontalba

Great review, Anna. Back in the day I read tons of books on WWII/Hitler, and I am pretty sure I've read that one. I do remember the two names of volumes, one by John Toland, Adolph Hitler. Also, The Arms of Krupp by Manchester. Good stuff. I think I read so much back then that I'm kind of "hitlered out". Heh. Anyhow, Happy Reading!

We saw the mini series of The Night Manager, loved it. I'm about a third of the way through the book. The show was quite close to the book, fortunately. Several areas are verbatim. I have read The Spy Who Came inFrom the Cold, and years ago saw the Richard Burton film version. Bleak? Oh, yeah. But excellent.

Thank you, all! . Much appreciated! It's shaping up pretty well. I've started "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" by Anthony Marra. So far, so good.

Got it, and responded, thanks. I couldn't see your books there though. Finally finished my first book of the year/month! The Children's Home by Charles Lambert 4/5 A terribly scarred and disfigured man, a grand secluded estate, furniture and carvings from all over the world are well described by Lambert, creating the centerpiece of our story. How was he so maimed? Where is this place? When is this place? And most of all, where are all the children coming from? All ages, both genders they simply arrive/appear on the estate. He and his housekeeper are the only inhabitants of the house and they care for the children unquestioningly. Mysterious wax figures are discovered, and a mission seems to be forming around the man. He is only told that he will know what to do when the time comes. The reviews on GoodReads are quite mixed, and tend to be lesser rather than more. I can understand why, but was compelled to rate it as highly as I have because of the ambiance of the story, the mixture of tragedy, love given and received, and total weirdness truly swept me along. There is an air of magical realism about the story, not a genre I enjoy. But, somehow, this works for me. I would have appreciated a little more.....body to the ending, but it is what it is, and that's ok. Interestingly, there is a small comparison for me to the book The Adventurers by Harold Robbin in that there is a past revolution apparently fueled by an Army that is now in disarray. That is part of my sympathy for the story, I believe. Recommended, if you can stand open endings that don't explain everything.

Almost summer hot, and it might rain.....gad zooks, did I lose 6 months?

*************I have edited the link, took off the # sign...don't know why it was there. Try the link now.************

Drat! I don't know...I just clicked it, and it worked. Maybe you have to be logged in? If you can get onto the site I'm booknest there, and Cateline. And thanks!

Great review, Ian. I loved the trilogy, but unlike you I did go back and reread the first two...phew! But I have to say that was, for me, a wise decision. My memory was vague, and the reread actually clarified some points for me. It was a great experience to read all 3 in one-felled swoop. I wonder if that unmasks a certain amount of masochism on my part......? Happy Reading Year!

Thanks BB! I hope I am able to dent my stacks too! BTW, posted a link to one of our Library Thing accounts in #3 post above.

We just finished The Level, hope there is more!

Happy Reading Year!! Amazing lists, BB! Ambition, thy name is.....BB! You have quite a few excellent ones that I've read, The Road, Outlander, and more....yays! I love this, it's an approach that has worked for me!

I don't think it has any impact on my choices. I tend to prefer a bit longer books, but if an idea about a book grabs me that slight preference goes out of the window. When I was young, I didn't care for short stories at all. I couldn't appreciate them, but for the last...er...30 years or so, I like them. They can have startling impacts!

LOL at your clown reference above, muggle! We watched Longmire, and enjoyed it......up to a certain point. When That finished me with the show. Happy Reading Muggle!!

Happy, happy reading year! Wonderful list.....think I'll just post a link on my thread.....I don't have the energy. lol

Thanks Gaia! I think it's beginning to shape up!

We had a stretch of below freezing nights, and days not much warmer. Now it's like Spring again. But, I'll take it!!

Last year was a slow reading year, but not as slow as some, thankfully. I'm still in the middle of The Greatest Knight, and something else that escapes me atm. heh Also I'm reading, and will finish today I believe, The Children's Home by Charles Lambert. Excellent so far, it is reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Not in actual content, but tenor.

saving, just in case Thought I'd post a link to one of our LibraryThing accounts. http://www.librarything.com/home (booknest)

Links to past book logs here..... http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13904-pontalbas-2016-reading-list/page-1 2016 64 books read http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13235-pontalbas-2015-reading-list/ 2015 42 books read http://www.bookclubf...ing-list/page-1 (2014) 109 books read http://www.bookclubf...3-reading-list/ 99 books read pontalba's 2012 reading list 65 books read pontalba's 2011 reading list 92 books read pontalba's 2010 reading list 74 books read pontalba's 2009 reading list 36 books read (I was distracted this year.) pontalba;s 2008 reading list 62 books read pontalba's books read list (2007) 59 books read http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/13235-pontalbas-2015-reading-list/page-1 Only 43 books read this year, but good ones!

Books Read in 2017 JANUARY The Children's Home by Charles Lambert 4/5 The Greatest Knight by Thomas Asbridge. 4/5 The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson 4/5 The Long Surrender by Burke Davis 5/5 A Death in Sweden by Kevin Wignall 4/5 FEBRUARY The Night Manager by John LeCarre 5/5 A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by. (Read 36%, couldn't finish, depressing) The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood 3/5 The Edge by Dick Francis 5/5 Hawaii by James Michener 5/5 The Perseid Collapse by Steven Konkoly 3/5 Event Horizon by Steve Konkoly 3/5 Watchman by Ian Rankin 4/5 Assignment: Amazon Queen by Edward S. Aarons 3/5 MARCH Extraordinary People by Peter May 4/5 The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George 5/5 The Nightwalker by Sebastian Fitzek 5/5 If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History by Jeff Greenfield 3/5 The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz. 2/5 (if that, I'm being kind) APRIL The Mists of Avalon by M.B. Zimmer 3/5 Triple Crown by Felix Francis 3/5 The Quiet Game by Greg Iles 5/5 Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon 5/5 As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley 4/5 How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain by Gregory Berns 5/5 Bird Box by Josh Malerman 5/5 MAY The Necessary Death of Lewis Winter by Malcolm MacKay 3.5/5 Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century by Nancy Schoenberger 3/5 Mystic River by Dennis LeHane 4/5 A Pillar of Iron by Taylor Caldwell 5/5 JUNE Days Without Number by Robert Goddard 5/5 How A Gunman Says Goodbye by Malcolm MacKay 4/5 The Sudden Arrival of Violence by Malcolm McKay 3.5/5 U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton 4/5 JULY Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane 4/5 Star Trek:TNG, Vendetta by Peter David 3/5 The Drop by Dennis Lehane 4/5 The Dark House by John Sedgwick 4/5

It is pouring down right now, cool, and the electricity just came back on after a couple of hours off. Fingers crossed it doesn't go out again. How those repair guys manage to fix it that fast is a miracle to me! It was out all over the area, several cities around here were dark. It's been raining for several days now, not like this right here, but the rivers are at flood stage. Thankfully not right by us. They say it'll be clear tomorrow though.

Madeline, How awful for you! But if it's starting out this miserable, it's bound to get better! /fingers crossed/. I hope everyone has a happy and healthy New Year. Best Wishes to all. Here is a story I spotted that is pretty wonderful to start the year. https://weather.com/science/nature/news/humpback-whales-killer-seal-rescue-antarctic

BB, Great reviews, I loved Reamde. I have to admit that I've been bogged down in Cryptonomicon for.....errr......several years. About half way through. If I ever try again, I'll have to start over, I'm sure. /sigh/

We've had a stretch of warm, humid days, I finally gave up and ran The a/c for the last several nights. But it'll be very close, if not freezing tonight.

She was wonderful, a classy woman in every way.