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frankie

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Posts posted by frankie

  1. On 27.6.2018 at 2:27 PM, ~Andrea~ said:

    So I read 10 pages last night! Hardly a good start. Unless I am really hooked by a book then I usually only manage 10-15 pages before I go to sleep. I generally only read in bed (very occasionally on the bus) and I don't read every day, in fact I often don't read at all at bedtime because I'm too tired. This is why I hardly get through any books! I'm determined to read more though, which I think means not just reading at bedtime. Or going to bed earlier - the latter of which I've failed at for years. So I need to read in the evenings I think, and more on weekends. I used to read every Saturday morning while I was coming to. Maybe I should try doing that again!

     

    This sounds so familiar! I used to read a lot in bed before falling asleep, and now I'm lucky if I can manage 15 pages, even if the book is good. And I don't think I go to bed any later than I used to. Maybe I need more sleep now that I'm older and working and all that crap :D I think going to bed earlier is a good idea, one would get more reading done before falling asleep. But there's always so much other stuff to do in the evening! One doesn't want to go to bed because that means another day at work is upon us sooner than we'd like... :rolleyes::D 

     

    I hope you can adjust your ways in a favorable way and get more reading done :smile2:

  2. Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella 

     

    AmazonAfter ten years together, Sylvie and Dan have a comfortable home, fulfilling jobs, and beautiful twin girls, and they communicate so seamlessly they finish each other’s sentences. They have a happy marriage and believe they know everything there is to know about each other. Until it’s casually mentioned to them that they could be together for another sixty-eight years . . . and panic sets in. 
                
    They decide to bring surprises into their marriage to keep it fresh and fun. But in their pursuit of Project Surprise Me—from unexpected gifts to restaurant dates to sexy photo shoots—mishaps arise, with disastrous and comical results. Gradually, surprises turn to shocking truths. And when a scandal from the past is uncovered, they begin to wonder if they ever really knew each other at all.

     

    Thoughts: A classic Kinsella. I reserved a copy of the book from the library when I saw they'd recently acquired it. Going into the novel, I found out it was about a married couple, which I think is rare for Kinsella... I think her protagonists are always single? So it was refreshing. Although I have to say I almost didn't read the novel because of it :D 

     

    The book was okay and easy enough to read. Not my favorite Kinsella, and I don't think it stood out in any way. 

     

    3/5

     

     

    The Beach House by Jane Green 

     

    AmazonEver since her life took an unexpected turn, Nan Powell has enjoyed living alone on the sun-drenched shores of Nantucket. At sixty-five, she’s just as likely to be found at Windermere, her beach front home, as she is skinny dipping in her neighbor’s pool.  But when the money she thought would last forever starts to dwindle, Nan decides to do something drastic to keep hold of her free-spirited life: open up Windermere to strangers. 

    After placing an ad for summer rentals touting water views, direct access to the beach, and a sexagenarian roommate, Nan’s once quiet house is soon full of noise, laughter, and the occasional bout of tears. Between her eclectic new tenants and the sudden return of her son, Nan gets a taste of what life is like when you have someone to care for besides yourself. But just as she starts to happily settle in to her new existence, the arrival of a visitor from her past threatens to turn everyone’s lives upside down...

     

    Thoughts: I was in the mood for rom-com, something easy, and I found this at the library. At first it seemed it might be too easy and too boring, but I kept on reading and then I was really enjoying the novel! It'll be forgettable, I think, but it was a page turner when I was reading it! :smile2:

     

    3/5

     

     

     

    Kaikki anteeksi by Laura Manninen 

     

    This is a Finnish debut about a 30something woman who meets the man of her dreams, and takes on his family even though she doesn't want children herself. The perfect man turns out to be something quite the opposite after a while. The book is about domestic violence of all nature. 

     

    I wasn't a huge fan of Manninen's way of words, but I was engrossed in the story. I think it was a powerful debut and I was well impressed. I think this was one of the meatiest books I've read this year. 

     

    4/5

  3. Books read:

     

    The Widow by Fiona Barton 

     

    Amazon: There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment. 
     
    Now [...]  and there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like [...]. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage. 
     
    The truth—that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything...

     

    Thoughts: It was ages since I read this book, but I remember it was great! I loved how the story was (partly) told from the perspective of a suspect's wife. The focus was on how she felt and how she perceived things and what she knew and didn't know. I don't think I've read a book from this perspective before. The foreword by the author I found really interesting! 

     

    I really liked it! 

     

    4/5

     

     

     

    The Cold Song by Linn Ullmann 

     

    Amazon: Siri Brodal, a chef and restaurant owner, is married to Jon Dreyer, a famous novelist plagued by writer’s block. Siri and Jon have two daughters, and together they spend their summers on the coast of Norway, in a mansion belonging to Jenny Brodal, Siri’s stylish and unforgiving mother.
     
    Siri and Jon’s marriage is loving but difficult, and troubled by painful secrets. They have a strained relationship with their elder daughter, Alma, who struggles to find her place in the family constellation. When Milla is hired as a nanny to allow Siri to work her long hours at the restaurant and Jon to supposedly meet the deadline on his book, life in the idyllic summer community takes a dire turn. One rainy July night, Milla disappears without a trace.[...]

     

    Thoughts: My first Ullmann novel. I liked the first half or so of the book and was devouring the story, but then it got a bit tedious for me. I think it's my own fault because I was hoping it to be more about a certain event that was well hyped in the blurb of my Finnish copy. I should've had a more open mind. I liked the book but it wasn't my cup of tea in a broader sense and I didn't like any of the characters. Sometimes one needs to find a likable character in a novel! 
     

    3/5

     

     

     

    Pormestari by Herman Koch

     

    This is the latest novel by Koch, but I don't think it's been translated into English yet. At least I couldn't find any English copies of the novel online. I guess the name of the book would translate into The Mayor. Unfortunately I don't remember much about the novel :unsure: I think it was a typical Koch novel, but my least favorite by him. I loved The Dinner, and personally I think none of the other novels by him have matched the genius of it :(  I didn't like this novel all that much and I don't know if I will be reading any more of Koch's books. I will always compare them to The Dinner and they will never compare :(

     

     2/5

     

     

     

    The Secret of Happy Ever After by Lucy Dillon (re-read) 

     

    Amazon: Michelle doesn’t believe in fairy tales. She’s a hard-headed businesswoman, making a fresh start in a new town. And when she decides to take over a neglected book shop, she knows the perfect manager. 

    For book-loving Anna, it’s a dream come true—and not just because it gives her an escape from her three demanding step-children and their adorable but hyperactive Dalmatian. Although she’s been thinking that her own fairytale ending hasn’t really turned out the way she hoped, Anna’s passion for the classics is transforming the shop. The customers, and even Michelle, are falling under the spell of the magical stories of romance, adventure, and lost dogs. 

    But when secrets from her past threaten Michelle’s new beginnings, and trouble strikes at the heart of Anna’s household, can the wisdom and courage of the stories in the bookshop help the two friends—and those they love—find their happy ever after?

     

    Thoughts: A re-read that I enjoyed as much as I did the first time!  :smile2:

     

    5/5

  4. On 29.4.2018 at 1:02 AM, Little Pixie said:

     

    Ooh, I would love to have space for just one more bookcase. :lol: Never mind 10. I`m shying from considering a book cull, but I may have to release some books to new homes. :)

     

    Book culls are so brutal! I'm so glad that I have so much space in my apartment and that I can live here for as long as I want and don't have to move out. I can indulge! :D Have you done any book releasing? 

     

    On 29.4.2018 at 1:04 AM, Little Pixie said:

    Congrats on the mojo return and the new books. :D  I got a charity shop copy of Fangirl recently, looking forward to reading it ( eventually ). I wouldn`t have known about the book, if it hadn`t been mentioned on BCF. :) 

     

    I think the mojo left but it came back already :D I don't think I would've known about Fangirl either, if it weren't for this forum. Unless it was a new book at a library and the title caught my attention. In any case, this place is a plethora of book recs :D

     

     

    On 29.4.2018 at 9:48 AM, Athena said:

     

    I get about wanting to read something in your own language, I need a mix of reading Dutch and English books.

     

    I knew you would! :smile2:  I was able to manage to read Surprise Me in English, but Kinsella is very readable, isn't she. The other books I've read have been in Finnish. I hope I can read more in English soon enough! 

     

     

  5. On 24.6.2018 at 8:49 PM, willoyd said:

     

    Thanks for that Frankie - a relief to know I wasn't the only one on The Paying Guests; maybe it wasn't my mood set (I've had a couple more positive experiences since!).  I will give Fingersmith a go sometime.  I loved The Crimson Petal and the White, as Janet correctly recalls, and I equally loved the film The Handmaid's Tal' which I gather is based on Fingersmith, so the omens are good! 

     

    You certainly aren't the only one! :) I hope you will like Fingersmith when you get to it! :smile2:The Handmaid's Tale is based on a novel by Margaret Atwood, bearing the same name, though. Unless there's another THT movie I don't know about! 

     

    Since my last post, I've finished Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella, and read The Beach House by Jane Green and a Finnish novel, Kaikki anteeksi by Laura Manninen. It's been a good reading month for me! :D 

  6. On 7.5.2018 at 2:18 AM, Inver said:

    'What Alice Forgot' by Liane Moriarty

     

    Alice bangs her head at the gym and when she wakes up can't remember the last 10yrs or that she has children and also getting a divorce. Over time things start to piece together with help from family and friends. Will she get her memory back and will she want to go back to how things were if she does. Will she like what she remembers time will tell.

     

    Enjoyable read but found it a bit too long. Slightly repetitive at times, but was glad I got to the end and didn't give up on it.

     

    3/5

     

    I enjoyed What Alice Forgot less than you, I have to say! I gave it 2/5. 

     

    On 19.5.2018 at 7:36 PM, bobblybear said:

     

    Is that the first Liane Moriarty book you have read? I read Big Little Lies and loved it, but have yet to read any of her others. 

     

    In my humble opinion, Big Little Lies is Liane Moriarty's best novel by far. I did enjoy The Husband's Secret, too, I gave it 4/5 (BLL got 5/5). Those two stand out for me. The others that I've read (What Alice Forgot 2/5, The Hypnotist's Love Story 2/5 and Truly Madly Guilty 3/5) I can't remember much about and I wouldn't personally recommend them. 

  7. On 11.6.2018 at 11:06 AM, willoyd said:

    Just over a hundred pages in, and have come to a halt with The Paying Guests.  Nothing particularly wrong with the book, it just seems all a bit tedious and obvious.  Having said that, I am starting to think it may be more my mndset than the books, as that's the fourth in the past six that I've not finished, more than I usually fail to finish in a year, so setting some sort of not particularly welcome record.

     

    On 12.6.2018 at 12:51 AM, Janet said:

    If you can face trying another, I think you'd enjoy Fingersmith.  It has a similar feel to The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, which I think you liked (?) about it.  :)

     

     

    I'm a bit late to this, but I've read The Paying Guests and I found it tedious as well! It was a very particular kind of a shame because I enjoyed Fingersmith, which Jänet has mentioned by the same author, so much more! In case you want to read more by the author, do try Fingersmith :)  I've read The Crimson Petal and the White and even though I agree in that they have the same kind of atmospheric kind of thing, I personally far more liked Fingersmith :)

     

    I'm currently reading The Beach House by Jane Green. It suits my scattered brain at the moment quite well! 
     

  8. On 16.4.2018 at 11:26 PM, Janet said:

    I have an infection in both ears.  The doctor started me off with antibiotic drops, but I was allergic to them so then I had tablet antibiotics for a week with no improvement so I went back to the surgery and saw the practice sister who looked in both ears and then called a doctor in who told me that I have a 'normal' (for want of a better word) infection in my left ear, but a fungal infection in my right - and that the antibiotics would have been feeding that infection and making it worse!  So now I have a steroid spray but no antibiotics (I also have infection in the tube that goes between my ears and the back of my throat!).  I have about 50% hearing back now, which is better, as I was virtually totally deaf for a week!  It's been a horrid one!

     

    I've only just read about your flu and infections ordeal, I'm sorry to hear you've been so poorly! :hug:  I read in a later post that you've started feeling a lot better. Are you fully recovered by now? :)

  9. On 25.2.2018 at 10:28 PM, bobblybear said:

    We Have Always Lived In The Castle - Shirley Jackson

     

    Merricat is the young woman narrating the story. She lives alone with her sister Constance, isolated from the world as much as possible. Constance was acquitted of the murder of their entire family a few years ago, and since then they have been shunned by their village community. When a long lost cousin shows up wanting to building a relationship, Merricat is instantly jealous and has other ideas.

     

    This is the first book I've read by Shirley Jackson, and I have to say I enjoyed it right from the start. It had a very dark, menacing feel to it, but in a very understated way. Hints are  subtly dropped about what happened in the past. I didn't read the blurb before starting the book, so this was effective for me.

     

    It was a short book, just over 150 pages but it really packs a punch. I have since bought a couple more Shirley Jackson books, but have yet to read them.

     

    Highly recommended if you are in the mood for something disturbing.

     

    5/6

     

     

    I'm so glad I read your review! This book has been on a reading list I'm following for years and years and for some reason I've grown sick of the title and thought I'd never read the book :D Not even knowing what the book is about... I think I'm confusing it with some other novel. In any case, I've read your thoughts on it and now I know what the book is actually about so now I'm eager to read it! :D

     

    On 19.5.2018 at 12:25 PM, bobblybear said:

    Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty

     

    We know immediately this story revolves around a death (possibly murder?) as that is the opener of the book. We are also told that this death involves a group of school mums. Little excerpts from these characters are given and we later realise that this is what they are telling journalists and detectives.

     

    The story is revealed slowly with more depth as you get further into the book. There were many twists and turns and it comes together brilliantly at the end. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

     

    5/6

     

    Yay! :yahoo:    :lol: I'm super happy you enjoyed it so much!! :smile2:

  10. I searched the forum for a topic on Peyton Place but couldn't find one. I did, however, find a lot of posts where people mentioned reading the book :)  I read the book some many years ago, and really enjoyed it! I think I wasn't too impressed by the book in the start, but it got better and better. I could've kept on reading! I'm not sure why I didn't read the subsequent novels then. I've thought about re-reading the first book and then reading the sequels.

     

    When I was googling the whole Peyton Place thing, I stumbled upon a related book by Barbara Delinsky, called Looking for Peyton Place. I'm kind of keen on reading this one, as well :D

    Any Peyton Place fans? I wonder if the TV series would be great to watch. Although I'm not sure where one might catch it...

  11. 19 hours ago, Athena said:

     

    I'm so glad you're enjoying Surprise Me! I just pre-ordered my paperback copy a few days ago, it should be here near the end of the month. I thought it was fiction though? Is it non-fiction? Either way I'm excited about reading it :exc:.

     

    I totally meant fiction! :D  I think I was trying to say non-non-fiction book :D  I mean, I was trying to stress that it wasn't non-fiction, as I have read English non-fiction in the past few months, whereas I haven't read any fiction in English.

    I hope you will enjoy the book! :smile2: 

  12. 19 hours ago, Athena said:

    I hope you enjoy the whole book :)!

     

    I've read about 150 pages now and I'm enjoying it! I hope it gets a bit deeper though, at some point. And look, I said non-fiction again, re: the Kinsella book :D  I meant my first non- non-fiction book :D 

     

    8 hours ago, Lau_Lou said:

    I have a couple of books I want to get finsished up. I am quite in the mood for classics at the moment but I want to try a new author. So shall have to have a dive into my books. I am also considering joining my local library. My sister-in-law has always said how she feels keeping libraries going and supporting them is important. Plus BOOKS! :D

     

    Supporting libraries is very important, I'm with your sister-in-law :D  Do join!!

  13. Pollen is so very annoying! It's crazy this year: people who have had no symptoms before, have had them this year. And as an allergic person, I've taken my meds as a good girl and the previous years they've worked like a charm, but this year being as bad as it is, even I have been suffering! 

  14. I've just bought tickets to see The Posies! I loved their first album when I was a teenager, but never got to listen to their subsequent albums. I found out they are coming over to Finland on their 30th anniversary tour and now I've been listening to their other albums, too! I'm very excited! :D 

  15. It's been unseasonably hot over here in Finland over the past three or so weeks, it's been record-breaking! I wish it rained, because pollen is a b*tch. It's not rained in I don't know how long! And it was reported that hedgehogs and little birdies are suffering because it's too hot :(

  16. It's great to see you guys going through your lists and telling us how you've made progress on your lists! :smile2: Onion Budgie, I'm especially happy to see that one of your TBR authors has become one of your favorite authors! :D  Imagine that!

     

    At the same time, I'm sad to say I've not read any of the authors I've mentioned in my list! :D:unsure::D 

  17. On 3.3.2018 at 10:43 PM, bobblybear said:

     

    I keep meaning to start this. It's been on my Netflix List for ages. 

     

    This is re: the Kimmy Schmidt show. I started watching it, because of 'Erin', obviously :D But it was went so overboard in my opinion... :D It was so cooky!! :D I tried watching it again, recently, and it didn't stick. Too bad! I really like Ellie Kemper, but the Kimmy thing was a bit too much for me! I hope you might like it, though!!

     

    On 20.5.2018 at 2:14 PM, bobblybear said:

     

    I've just started watching Season One. :)

     

    Is it just as good as it was before? I'm still so happy you started watching it and that you liked it so much!! :smile2: I watched the finale episode this week and I'm so sad that it's over :(:(:(  :D

     

     

    On 29.5.2018 at 12:12 PM, poppy said:

    I've been watching the remake mini series of Picnic At Hanging Rock. I read the book by Joan Lindsay a long time ago, which I think is fortunate as I have only vague recollections of the story. The series, according to reviews, differs from the book in several ways and has a lot more detail. It's quite an eerie story and beautifully filmed.

     

    Oooh! I think Kylie told me about this book and the real events! I want to read the book! I started it one time ages ago but there were so many characters I got confused and put the book down. I wonder if I should try and watch the TV series instead, if I get the opportunity. 

     

    On 1.6.2018 at 3:20 PM, Kylie said:

    Is anyone else watching The Handmaid's Tale? It's utterly brilliant!

     

    I'm so happy you're enjoying it! :smile2: I've not watched it, I'm at a place in life where I don't want to watch this kind of stuff as it's too depressing, but maybe at a later time! :smile2:

     

    I'm now on the third season of GoT, we'll be watching some eps tomorrow with BF.  I don't think I have any other series hanging at the moment :o

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