Pangolin
-
Posts
54 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Books
Posts posted by Pangolin
-
-
Hi,
I'm going to New York in a couple of weeks and, as I like to read a book based on where I'm going, I'm looking for book recommendations.
Genre-wise I'm not too fussy as I'll read most things, except I don't want a romance and I'd like to stay away from crime. I'd also like it to be relatively modern.
If you've read any that fits the description that you would recommend, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
Thanks in advance 🙂
-
My local libraries (Edinburgh) opened up recently. They've been open on a 'book a slot' basis for a while but now most of them - with the exception of a few that are being used as test centres - are back to normal. I haven't been back in yet, but I'm looking forward to it!
-
I've read 10 of those. There are a few that I've started but never finished too.
I'm another one that never finished Moby Dick. I like to keep my fiction and my reference books separate!
-
Good review, and echoes my thoughts about it too, although I haven't finished it.
I started reading this at some point last year. I loved the beginning, but around halfway through I started to get bored with it, I set it down and completely forgot about it. I really liked the idea of it but for me, it just didn't work.
-
I don't mark any of my fiction books, and I hate folded down corners! I do write in text books though. My botany books have all kinds of notes in them, and I highlight the names of the plants I've found. My books on writing are also covered in notes - all in pencil. I also make notes in recipe books.
-
Story Graph looks pretty good, thanks for sharing.
I love Goodreads, I'm usually on there every day. I've been using it for a few years. I love reading through reviews of books I've read - there used to be a button that found recent reviews of your books, but sadly it disappeared. I wish the mobile app was a bit better though.
-
I mainly use Amazon - it is too easy not to!
-
I've read 11 so far. A record for me. The main reason is because I broke my wrist last month, so couldn't do any of my other hobbies! Plus I've recently discovered that I can read 2 books at the same time if one of them is a physical book and one is an ebook.
-
I've been reading this series since the start of February - I bought the full 6 book set. I've read the first 5 so far and I'm really enjoying them - such good action-packed fun, and I love the characters, especially Simon. I'm starting the last book tomorrow, then I might look into getting one of her other series to read later in the year.
-
I read this book years ago, chosen for the title. I remember enjoying the story, but unfortunately really didn't get on with the writing style. I found the dialogue in particular hard work to read.
-
A few creative hobbies - I love painting, especially watercolour, and I love doing ink drawings too - sadly my desire to do either of those things left me at the start of the first lockdown last year, and I'm desperate to get back into it (although my painting space is now where my home office is, which makes things more difficult). I also love writing - I've always got something on the go. I'm currently at the planning stage for an urban fantasy I've had in mind for some time. I also like knitting - I'm doing an Aran cardigan at the moment, although I had to stop that too as I recently broke my wrist and I've been worried to pick it up! I also enjoy nature, baking, growing veg, and playing ukulele.
I don't really collect anything, unless you count art supplies and notebooks I haven't got around to using yet.
-
Also from Lord of the Rings: Tom Bombadil. Drove me mad the first couple of times I attempted to read this book (and was the reason I abandoned reading it, twice). I've since got past him but it took an effort!
-
Perfect - Rachel Joyce
-
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
-
Riggwelter.
It's a Yorkshire Dales word for a sheep that's stuck on its back.
Sadly I've only ever had chance to use it once in conversation.
-
I'm the biggest reader in my family now. My brother reads a fair bit, but he has phases where he doesn't read (unlike me). My mum used to read all the time but not so much anymore. My boyfriend's read one book in the 5 years I've known him.
At work though, we all seem to be readers.
-
The one is Norway looks like it should be a surrealist painting. It's beautiful!
-
I also always keep in mind that the author of the book might well read it, and I know if it were me I'd want an honest and constructive opinion!
Well I know that If I ever get a book published I would be reading reader reviews as they're the important ones, and if there were criticisms that kept being mentioned I could work on them if the future... But I know what you mean about controversy, and all my comments are only ever about what I read in the book. I've seen reviews that are downright insulting, not so much reviews as personal attacks, which aren't helpful at all.That's an interesting person to have in mind when writing a review! I never thought of it that way before- usually, I write with future potential readers in mind
but I also don't want to throw anything too controversial in my forum reviews... start up a big deal. That's why I write one for myself, too, basically the same, just written for me. I also think of it as writing for a school class, which helps it be more proper. -
I generally leave it a couple of days before I write a review. If I do it straight away, there'll always be something I really liked or disliked about the book that will take over what I write. If I leave it, the review is a bit more balanced.
I never write a synopsis. I always start by writing what my initial thought was as soon as I closed the book, then try and summarise how I felt about the whole thing in general. For the main part of my review I go through the positive aspects first, then negative, and include thoughts on storyline, characters, setting the scene, writing style etc. Even if I hated the book I can usually find something positive to say. I close by saying whether I would read it again, what I got out of it, if I'd recommend it and suchlike. I also always keep in mind that the author of the book might well read it, and I know if it were me I'd want an honest and constructive opinion!
My rating can be based on a few things, not just how much I liked it. I've given 3 stars to books I loved as much as to books I didn't like much at all. It usually depends on how much I liked the writing style, as well as the storyline. I've enjoyed reading truly terrible books because I liked the way they were written, and similarly, really liked good stories that were written really badly (all in my own opinion).
-
I've been on Goodreads for a couple of years now. I had been looking for a way of keeping track of what I'd read and where I could write reviews and this fits the bill. I love reading book reviews; I like seeking out ones with the opposite opinion to the one I have of a book, it's good to see a different perspective.
-
I've never turned down the corner of a book. I don't think I could!
I have a bookmark I got from the library, with the opening times printed on it. Otherwise I'll use a train ticket, receipt, leaflet, envelope, bit of wool ... endless list. As long as it isn't something that will mark the pages.
-
The majority of books I read I get from the library. I have access to around 20 libraries so I alternate between them, and there's plenty of choice. I'll buy new if I'm working away from home or if it's an author I really like, but I like the library as I can just pick up books at random and not worry I've wasted money if I don't like it.
-
I've never even picked one up!That's great, Pangolin. If you play ukulele, that is.
-
It isn't often I have recurring dreams, but last week I had two very similar ones in which I became a world-class ukulele player.
Looking for books based in modern-day New York
in Book Search and Reading Recommendations
Posted
Many thanks France, that sounds like the kind of book I'm after. I'm staying not far from Central Park so that fits. It has dogs too, big plus! 🙂