Marie H
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Posts posted by Marie H
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That's true! I'm somewhat less bothered by my TBR ebooks, as well. But then it's easier to forget which ones I have, because more difficult to go and look at them.
Very true, as I forget that I have some ebooks (and I've only had my ereader for 3 months
). Then it's really exciting, when I find them all over again 
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Some very good tips Athena
, but I have very weak willpower when I try to keep to them. 
. At least I am managing to only buy ebooks, (unless I buy reference books and art books). Ebooks don't take the space of tree books . -
I'm reading Girl Stolen by April Henry and its actually good.
Oh I'm glad you're liking Girl Stolen, I'm picking a copy from the library tomorrow
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Finished Purge this afternoon
. It has been a bit of a slog, but worth it .As for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See - my oh my
. I knew that it was going to about foot binding, but as the book blurb said as being "startling vivid" doesn't really explain how very graphic the book is! I'm glad that had my tea before I had read further than page 28 . I think some light evening reading with P G Wodehouse is the best for me... -
I have another 62 pages go to read of Purge by Sofi Oksanen. There was another twist in the tale when I read last night. Hope to finish it this weekend.
Started Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See yesterday, but only read as far as page 28, so it's too early to if it will be good.
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I hope I didn't offend you with my question, I was only being curious. I think everyone should read the books they choose to read, and if they don't feel like reading something, it's totally up to them
I do understand your reasoning No frankie,you didn't offend me
,but I just wanted to make the subject clearer, as you were curious. . -
Yeah, I can definitely understand that
I suppose you are not the kind of person who likes disturbing books?Do I avoid disturbing books? I suppose sometimes I do avoid them. I have never read an Irvine Welsh book, or seen any of the films, and I don’t intend to do in the future. Am I avoiding these subjects? Some would say that I do ignore them, but as life can be a hellish nightmare, why read books about them? I hope that I have made these choices not to read some books, simply
as it is my choice. I read some non-fiction on subjects that are disturbing, but that for me is a different choice again. I know that this can be an incredibly thorny subject, what people choose to read. But I feel strongly about this, and I need to explain why I might avoid from some books.
Books on the list that have and hope to read sometimes are
Swannn’s Way Book 1 and Within a Budding Grove Book 2 (30% read of Swann’s Way so far)
To The Lighthouse, Virginia Wool
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
I know what you mean.. I think I have too many challenges going on as it is, so it wouldn't be very wise of me to get on with this one...
Thanks Marie! A glint in my eye? Maybe that's the mint liquor I cracked open some time ago...
When I read the 'synopsis' on Alphabetical Africa, I immediately thought of you!
And Kylie, of course. Our Oulipo enthusiasts Are you interested in that book, at least? I hope that the mint liquor had the desired effect,
, with helping you with the flu symptoms 
.Alphabetical Africa sounds interesting
, I have a soft spot for Oulipo, I must make a post for Kylie about it soon. -
Good luck frankie, if/when you embark on this challenge
. I think you have a glint in your eye, and this a challenge not to be missed. -
Well, over the last 30 years I have owned 10 of 50 books, but only started 6 of them
. All of them were difficult, disturbing, or so dull, I never got past the first 20 or so pages. This is too much of a challenge for me - life is too short to cause that much 'book anguish' . Good luck to who takes this as a challenge -
Book # 97 Smokin` Seventeen by Janet Evanovich
I think if you`ve read one, you`ve read them all - which hasn`t stopped me from reading 17 of them.
The ongoing adventures of Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. maybe not as funny as they used to be, but still a fun read. I haven't read any since No 10, but as you say, they are all a good 'fun read'
. Glad to hear that Ranger is still on the scene 
.I found hardback books of nos. 12 and 14 in a charity shop yesterday. I did manage to restrain myself and not buy them
. It is quite a long time since I've seen parts of my bedroom floor, underneath all the piles of TBR books . -
This is encouraging Marie
I was actually reading it (but hadn't got far) when I became ill earlier this year and I've had a ridiculous superstition about it ever since .. like I know for a few pages at least I'll be plunged back into feeling as I did. Absolute nonsense of course .. the book didn't cause me to be ill but I didn't want to be reminded so haven't gone back to it. It sounds like it will be a tonic as much as anything so you've convinced me to pick it up again and crack on with it Or I will as soon as I've finished the two books I'm reading at the moment
I do hope that you read, and enjoy, the book poppyshake. I think the characters are rather weird, it's as if Steve Toltz has a rather warped sense of humour; a bit like Clive James, but more warped.
Oh yes, I know what you mean about the superstition
. In my case it is slightly different; I went to a funeral of a friend who we have been quite close to, and she died suddenly at 40. The music played at the end of the funeral was Eva Cassidy's Somewhere Over the Rainbow,but the worst thing was that the CD playing was jumping,repeating and leaping about, so was terrible to listen to. I can never listen to it now, without thinking of her funeral. 
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Listened to the first cd of A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz last night. What a corker of a book it is
, I giggled so much. Bought the ebook today, as there were so many memorable gems in the book, I have to re-read them again (and again). Bought three ebooks by Robert Louis Stevenson: Kidnapped, Catriona or David Balfour (A Sequel to Kidnapped) and The Black Arrow. Never read RLS's novels before,so it will be a new direction for me.
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Oh joy, for you and for the indie bookstore
, they are so rare these days. Indeed, as you say "happy happy joy joy"!! The owl was just so beautiful too!
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I think I might have to put The Plague by Albert Camus aside for a while, I just can't engage with it since I've hit the second part. It's a shame because today is his birthday but I am really struggling with it.
I hope that you can read The Plague sometime in the future, as it is a wonderful book, that I still think about it every now and then. One of the best existential novels,imho
. I still have an old Penguin Classic of Camus' The Outsider that I haven't read, yet another in a TBR list... -
The Mitford
.. no question There is also Edmund Crisp's The Moving Toyshop but that's not particularly famous.Definitely The Pursuit of Love!
Shropshire
The most famous Shropshire setting are the Cadfael series by Ellis Peters.
Precious Bane by Mary Webb -but not well-known(or that enjoyed either) -maybe Gone to Earth?
My vote would be one of PG Wodehouse Blandings Castle series, maybe
Pigs Have Wings, Galahad at Blandings, Summer Lightning are good books, in fact, any Blandings Castle books that have Lord Emsworth's prize pig Empress of Blandings are wonderful! Quintessentially Shropshire
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finished Peter Clines 14 and hoping to finish The Husband's Secret tonight
Ooh, I have been thinking of trying The Husband's Secret for a while. Look forward to your review
Audiobooks from the library today - Doppler by Erlend Loe (Norwegian author), and A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz (Australian). Both will be for my World Tour by Fiction. Very excited about Steve Toltz' book after reading review recently!
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The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
I am most at home in sci-fi when all the action is taking place on earth .. if I have to worry about a whole new planet or a different world entirely then I find it difficult to hang on. I do love it when creatures from another world/planet invade us though or plants start walking around munching people up ... it COULD happen and so I get extra excited and shivery about it. There are lots of parallels between what's going on in this story and what's happening in the world today .. not that there's krakens wreaking havoc in the deeps (though ..
.. who knows,) but in the way of extinction, global warming and our government's various reactions to impending disaster. It's always interesting to see that, opinions and ideas written years and years back, often turn out to be uncannily accurate. I can't walk round anyone's house now (including my own) without thinking of 1984 and the telescreens 
I did get a bit overly excited about fireballs reigning down yesterday but it was Bonfire Night so that may have accounted for it. All the same I'm glad I don't live within draggingwalking distance of the seashoreI like the sound of Kraken Wakes from your review poppyshakes
. For someone who has had "SF intolerance" ( ) for decades, I avoid the usual type of storyline of Science Fiction. KW is more my style of Speculative Fiction, rather than Science Fiction. Who knows, I might have a nibble at KW over the festive season, to see if my" SF intolerance" is any better .( I also read your review of Christmas Carol/Christmas schedule/nightmare
. Poppyshakes, hang in there gal! 
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Hi Julie, that was a great review of Alice Ozma's book
. I've put that book on my public library wishlist, as it will be a book to read in times of book-doldrums. -
I did finish The Count of Monte Cristo audio book which is absolutely brilliant! Both the book and the narration. Straight away tops my favourite classics list and is a possible contender for my favourite book ever!
This however means I now have to buy a paper book as well as trying to new Robin Buss translation, guess that means i'll have to buy the penguin version as well 
Christmas is soon however... Highly recommend this to everyone who hasn't read it. Rightly deserves its place on my '50 books to read before you die' book mark
Got myself a free ebook of The Count of Monte Cristo after your recommendation
. So many classics I've never read . My ereader TBR is full of H G Wells, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Leo Tolstoy and Daniel Defoe, just to mention a few -
Oh dear, another way to buy books!
I have managed to restrain myself, just let them my email, that's all
. I would hate to miss out anything in the offer . -
Hello Sagesmith, and welcome to the forums
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Hi Sara, and welcome to the forums
I love P.G. Wodehouse's books, especially the Blandings Castle series
It's only recently that I've start reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, which is a bit embarrassing
. I should have read those years ago...I'm trying to read more novels by international authors, so I will look up books by Miro Gavran and Marija Jurić Zagorka.
Hope you enjoy the forums!
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Sonia, and I hope that you enjoy the forums.
You have a love of books, and the passion to talk about books too!
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Ooh, that was a great review of A Fraction of the Whole
. It’s pretty much totally unbelievable and there is extraordinary level of cynicism about life and the human condition; something which should delight even the most misanthropic.
It sounds just the ticket for me - I love a streak of misanthropy! (I could do with emoticon for that too...
)That book is now on my public library reservation list
. An misanthrope made happy!
Your Book Activity - November 2013
in General Book Discussions
Posted
Started The Shooting Party by Anton Chekhov. Only read as far as page 6, but I'm already enjoying the writing style, which a good sign
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