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pontalba's 2017 reading list


pontalba

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I finished The Night Manager by John LeCarre  last night, its definitely a 5/5.

 

The story begins with a man, a very precise man, acting as a Night Manager of a hotel.  But he is much more than that, he has a bit of a checkered past with the Army and has certain loyalties and qualities that serve him well in the book.  There is a woman, of course, there always is.  Her fate hurtles him into a hunt for justice that takes him to and beyond his physical, emotional and psychological bounds. 

 

The story takes the reader from Egypt, to Switzerland to the deepest jungles of a certain South American land.  Stopping on the way in England and Ireland for a legend (cover story created for a spy).

 

The recent film series made of it followed the book quite closely in most respects.  The book contains more in depth characterization, more detail of course.  Although I have to say the actors managed to project the same vibes as the book.  The ending is quite different though.  The film version is more.....action packed.  Both equally satisfying in their own way. 

 

Still, when all is said and done, I'll always love the Smiley books more than any other LeCarre's.  Just because. :)

Sounds like something I may like. I will have to check it out.

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I've put A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra down.

 

I don't foresee finishing this book. It is beautifully written, but unremittingly depressing. One horror after the other, from citizens dragged from their homes in the night to graphic descriptions of limb amputations. I know these things happened, do happen, and will happen.

I just don't want to read about it.

 

I read 36% of it, that's more than enough of a chance, imo.

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Thanks Gaia!

 

Muggle, hope if you do, you enjoy it. :).

I currently have quite a few books on hold at the library so I will have to wait a bit before adding it to my list. At least 90% of my reading comes from books downloaded from the library. Are you going to put on a list all the books you have read so far this year?

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I currently have quite a few books on hold at the library so I will have to wait a bit before adding it to my list. At least 90% of my reading comes from books downloaded from the library. Are you going to put on a list all the books you have read so far this year?

I have to investigate the library loan stuff around here.

 

I keep a list at the beginning of this thread, muggle. I just updated it. :)

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I have to investigate the library loan stuff around here.

 

I keep a list at the beginning of this thread, muggle. I just updated it. :)

Please investigate the library for e-books (especially kindle). The money savings is incredible. Also, it is a quick and easy way to obtain books for reading. Sometimes if the book is recent and on the top 10 list you may have to wait for a book but that doesn't bother me. I just put it on hold and when it is available I read it. Frequently our library will carry many copies of popular books. Example, The Whistler by John Grisham is in demand and I am # 235 on the hold list. However, the library has 26 copies of the book so in essence it means I am #9. :)

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Please investigate the library for e-books (especially kindle). The money savings is incredible. Also, it is a quick and easy way to obtain books for reading. Sometimes if the book is recent and on the top 10 list you may have to wait for a book but that doesn't bother me. I just put it on hold and when it is available I read it. Frequently our library will carry many copies of popular books. Example, The Whistler by John Grisham is in demand and I am # 235 on the hold list. However, the library has 26 copies of the book so in essence it means I am #9. :)

 

:)  I will, as soon as I find my Library Card!

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In spite of starting 3 other books, I've reread The Edge by Dick Francis.  Definitely a 5/5! :)

 

It's good everything, an evil villain, a staunch hero, a lovely and believable woman and an interesting train trip across the Canadian landscape.  Not to mention a most satisfying ending.  Francis was certainly at his height for this one.

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Whoops!  Almost forgot to mention that I finished (finally!) Margaret Atwood's The Heart Goes Last.  I have to rate it 3/5, perhaps not entirely fair as I read the first 4 parts (of 5) quite a while back and only got around to reading the last part in hardback a week or so ago. 

 

I just couldn't get into the last part and found myself skimming, hoping to hurry up the process.   In fairness I should go back and reread the thing in it's entirety.  Ain't gonna happen.

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Ok, the ten books we bought at the Library Sale are:

 

The Falls and The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

Aurora and Galileo's Dream by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Scarecrow and The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

The Information Specialist's Guide to Searching and Researching the Internet by  Ernest Ackermann

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Name to a Face by Robert Goddard

Find a Victim: A Lew Archer Novel by Ross Macdonald

 

All for 7.00 USD, 6 of them are hardbacks which we prefer.

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Ok, the ten books we bought at the Library Sale are:

I hope you enjoy all of your new books :).

 

I've only read the Red Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (though this was ages ago and I'm unsure if I read the third book or not; I plan to re-read the trilogy in English some time). I don't really know much about any other books the author has written (I think it's a he?). I looked it up and the novels sound interesting, Aurora in particular :).

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Ok, the ten books we bought at the Library Sale are:

 

The Falls and The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

Aurora and Galileo's Dream by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Scarecrow and The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

The Information Specialist's Guide to Searching and Researching the Internet by  Ernest Ackermann

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Name to a Face by Robert Goddard

Find a Victim: A Lew Archer Novel by Ross Macdonald

 

All for 7.00 USD, 6 of them are hardbacks which we prefer.

I hope you got your library card while there. It will be your most important item once you start downloading  the kindle books from the library. :)

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I hope you got your library card while there. It will be your most important item once you start downloading  the kindle books from the library. :)

The sale wasn't at the actual library. I'm actually searching the house for my card. Changing wallets caused it to be put away "safely". :roll: we know that it's safe....... /sigh/. If I can't find it, I'll have to go to the library and see the procedure for obtaining a new one.

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Finished the monumental Hawaii by James Michener. 5/5

 

From the very creation of the islands, to the histories of her peoples ending just prior to Statehood, Michener weaves a magical blend of the personalities that shaped the islands. Panoramic, generational and gorgeously written, this tale of Hawaii is never mundane, never boring.

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Sorry Kate, I thought I had wished you a happy reading year but seems I haven't :( Happy Reading in 2017! Looks like it's going reasonably well .. you've read a great deal of 4/5 5/5s :smile:  

  

 

:D. Thanks, lol, I can't remember who I have or not either! If I haven't........consider it wighed for you too!

Yup, so far, so good.

 

Ooh, hurray for new books ! I`ll be interested in how you like Aurora ; it`s a book I`ve pondered over getting. :)

Thanks! :)

 

 

  

I hope you enjoy all of your new books :).I've only read the Red Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson (though this was ages ago and I'm unsure if I read the third book or not; I plan to re-read the trilogy in English some time). I don't really know much about any other books the author has written (I think it's a he?). I looked it up and the novels sound interesting, Aurora in particular :).

'''Tis a he.....I've only read the first of the Mars Trilogy so far. Charles has read all, afaik.

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The Perseid Collapse and Event Horizon, both by Steven Konkoly 3/5

 

The first two of a trilogy, they cover the first 70-odd hours after an event that is still uncertain.  Both the characters and the reader are not sure exactly what the heck happened.  It is certain that there was an *EMP event, but there seems to be more than that happening.  In any case, a tidal wave is involved along with all electronics being ruined, and no electricity.  No one seems to be in charge and all the crazies have come out to play.

 

The focus family has just dropped their oldest, a son, at college in Boston so the Father is working to retrieve the young man.  The entire book(s) are one big struggle to survive.  There is a military aspect, and the acronyms are dropped throughout, making it somewhat cumbersome, imo.  The action is detailed and can be gruesome. 

 

Not sure if I will follow up on the third book, it's on my kindle though so I expect I will sooner or later. 

 

*EMP-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse  electromagnetic pulse

 

 

I've also finished Watchman by Ian Rankin  4/5, actually more a 3.75/5

 

A different sort of spy story, Miles Flint is a watcher of spies.  Its hard to tell anything much about this as almost anything could be a spoiler, but suffice it to say there are slippery characters, murders, and traitors.  Interestingly done, a nicely paced story.

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