pontalba

I'm reading it now, and can't say I like any of the characters! Agreed, we're not supposed to like them. But it is interesting. Lots of directions it can go in at this point!

I'm about 125 pages into Gone Girl, and liking it. I don't know if there is a real resolution at the end, but at this point, the "blame/story" could go in any direction. At least 3, maybe 4 directions. I like that!

Felicia's Journey by William Trevor 2/5 I'll generously give Felicia's Journey a two star...it's in-between a one and two for me. I've read about half, and read the end. Shame on me! hah Oh well. Not sure I'll ever finish, a bit too creepy, and boring at the same time. Not sure how that has been accomplished, but that's the feeling I have. Dunno, for some reason, Trevor always affects me this way. I'll like the synopsis of his books, but I've yet to finish one. It isn't only that it is slightly depressing, but to be bored and depressed is too much to overcome. Goodness knows I like authors that have some so called "depressing" stories but in someone like, for example John Banville, the writing makes up foe the down of the subject matter. I just don't respond to or particularly like Trevor's writing. That is not to say, it's across the board bad....but for me...no dice. The story?, oh, yeah the story. Seduced and deserted Irish girl leaves home, pregnant and penniless, trying to find the no good louse that left her. She has little information to go on, meets a man that seems to want to help her. /sigh/ Is he Sir Galahad or Norman Bates? Meh.

Yes, and they certainly kept us waiting! Made it all the more powerful.

LOL sorry, every time I see OCB, I think of Obsessive Compulsive Behavior...........

Glad to hear it frankie! Yays, indeed! I've also started Gone Girl. So many polar opposite reviews I've seen. Have to see for myself.

There are certain awards I take note of, such as for mysteries.........The Silver Dagger (I think it's called), sort of I know them when I see them. Gold dagger, Diamond Dagger, along those lines. Also whenever the Booker lists come out, I'll investigate the titles. They tend to make me notice books I probably would not have looked at otherwise. Of course, not all of the books on those lists, but a few, enough over the years to bear fruit. If certain authors I like recommend a book, I'll at least look at it to see if it's one I can get along with. None of the above selections are ironclad. Just because a book has many of the requirements, or hooks that might attract me, it, in the end is the hard copy test. I call it the first paragraph, and the page 69 test. If the prose/story seems to hold up by/on page 69, there is an excellent chance it'll be a good one.

I'm still mucking about, in and out of several books. Another one I've picked up is a non-fiction by Geoffrey Robertson. The Tyrannicide Brief. It's the story of a lawyer, one John Cooke, Puritan. He is the one that tried and convicted King Charles I, bringing Charles to his beheading.

Oh, you've got to see The Great Gatsby!! Everyone in it is so spot on for their roles. I read TGG just before seeing the film, so it was fresh in my mind. The party scenes are beyond wonderful. Layers upon layers of action. The film couches it in a slightly different manner, but it works well. And watch the opening. The frame in the beginning, goes from grey and black and white to a beautiful gold and black. Very dramatic. And at the end, it reverses back to the grey, black and white.

I checked the cover, receiving a book award...that depends on the award as well though, review from goodreads, or BCF. And yes, Michelle, there are certain authors I automatically gravitate towards as well. A few times I've had a cover put me off of buying a book. If it is grotesque, or (IMO) bizarre, I'll pass it up. In fact, one occasion I can think of, The Sisters Brothers, I put off buying it on account of the two sculls on the cover. Finally I overcame my distaste for the cover and bought it and loved the book. But a few, I've never gone back to on account of the cover.

Honestly, di Caprio is turning into, or really has turned into a fascinating actor. I don't find him attractive, but he immerses himself into a role completely. In The Aviator, he had the nervous tics down pat! And the scenes of di Caprio as Hughes in the Washington DC government meetings were spookily like Hughes! Re the black hole.............don't feel like the Lone Ranger..

As I typed, I thought the same!!

In the Mood for Love 2046 Last Year at Marienbad La Dolce Vita Suspect - X House of Flying Daggers You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet Lola That's all I can think of at the moment. Oh...the Gerard Depardieu (French) version of The Count of Monte Cristo. Would that count? Soon, The Grandmaster a Wong Kar Wei film.

@Kylie, the only one on your list I've seen is J Edgar....I have to tell you, DiCaprio is scarily like the real J Edgar H. We liked it a lot. @poppy...OMG, I saw Shadowlands when it came out, and cried like a baby. It was fantastic. Oh, must add that The Aviator was excellent, bio of Howard Hughes.....again, diCaprio nailed the role! Cate Blanchette was very good as Katharine Hepburn too.

LOL We decided to box the books and mail them home. Worked a treat. We also mailed home our laundry, rather than carrying the dirty clothes around with us. The rate was very reasonable. Book rates in country are very good. Oh, fun! Excepting the bee sting! Yeah, we buy most of our books online actually. But the new second hand store, 2nd & Charles is most promising. We've bought a couple of stacks there. They also carry second hand DVDs, at a very fair price. AIE: there is a giant book sale up in Connecticut that I've had my eye on. Maybe next year!

I have a definite yen to visit the one in Wales! There is a Book or Literary Festival in Washington, D.C. every September. We've been tempted, but haven't made it yet. I wish they'd have it at the same time as the State Department's Book Sale! That is every October. Drat, we can't make both.

We have the Boxall book, 1001 books..really a neat, beautifully made book! I've read a couple of Graham Green's, and liked them, but not that particular one. I've also read several of William Boyd's books, and liked them, but not that one. lol Same for Doris Lessing, I read her Golden Notebook.....I need to reread it to really get the flavor though. It's very interesting. She is an interesting author. The one Evelyn Waugh I've read....can't even remember the name at the moment.....kind of disappointed me, wasn't the one you have listed though.

I tried. Twice. Maybe I just don't care for Wharton, the style of writing isn't to my taste, at all. The opening of her in the hated library just put me off even more. I'm not saying never, but it's highly unlikely I'll read Summer. Kudos to those that did!

/groan/ Something about Steinbeck just sets my teeth on edge. I've tried numerous time to read his books. I have read East of Eden, only because I was leading a discussion of it on another forum, some years ago. It almost killed me. Not the story.......I liked the story itself. But something about Steinbeck's writing, I just cannot stand. I know how popular he is, and how actually revered he is......not by me though. Love, love, love Gone With the Wind though!

You will, once you've adjusted to your walking schedule. Just takes getting used to. I've several of Cornwell's books......I'll buy them because they appeal, but somehow they sink in the TBR pile(s). The mentions here are getting my attention.

I'd posted these links over on Book News, but wanted to put them in here, to keep track of them. 'Books On Bikes' Helps Seattle Librarians Pedal To The Masses And, for science fiction fans...... Author, Feminist, Pioneer: The Unlikely Queen Of Sci-Fi And, for mystery, Sue Grafton fans...... In 'Alphabet' Mysteries, 'S' Is Really For Santa Barbara Last, but not least, I wonder if anyone on here has visited this festival. Hay Festival 22 May–1 June 2014 I originally heard of the last festival back in 2006 from this NYT article. In Rural Wales, a Sundance for Bibliophiles

BTW, it's the 4th in the series. I didn't realize it when I bought it for my kindle. I've found the first three on Amazon Marketplace, second hand.

Awwwww! But, it's the thought that counts. Amazon card is an excellent idea!

I am not a browser. If I browse, I buy. Hands down. What I actually need to do is remove the Amazon quick link from my favorites....... But it can be done. /sigh/ It really can. It really can. It really can. It really can!

Great review willoyd. I've started several of McEwan's books, but didn't finish, or even get very far in any of them. The synopsis would sound as though I'd really enjoy it, but the books just didn't appeal to me at all. I think that although the premise of his stories are great, the delivery just doesn't........deliver. For me at any rate.