pontalba
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Posts posted by pontalba
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Not sure, but I think I'm going to reread Outlander by Diana Gabaldon next. She is coming out with the 8th installment this Fall, so. /sigh/
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I disliked The DaVinci Code, and haven't read any others of Brown's books. I don't dismiss a book out of hand on account of "badly written prose" either, usually, but the whole story line just.....annoyed me. The way Brown set up the scenery didn't please me either. Anyhow.
As my Aunt would have said.....To each his own kettle of fish!
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That's good to hear, thanks pontalba!
Yep, I read Sister last year and really, really enjoyed it. It was so well written and constructed and there were a few major twists. I picked it up based on recommendations on here and I wasn't disappointed! I don't know anything about Afterwards, but it's a Lupton novel, so I can't miss it 
Have you read Sister?Yes, that was the first of hers I read. Loved it! I'll definitely pick up anything she writes.
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Good review ian, I've read both as well, and feel I must do a reread, at least before the next one comes out. Whenever that will be.
I found myself confused a little with who was what, when and how but managed anyhow.
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Thanks VF.
It's an up and down battle, but I'm more or less holding my own. Our little jaunts are interfering with dieting, but we'll get there!
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.............Ron Jonson's The Psychopath Test and Rosamund Lupton's Afterwards!
I've read both of above, and certainly enjoyed them. Have you read Lupton's other one, Sister?
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Paul Auster's Invisible is really a simple story. The difficult part comes in when the reader must decide who is telling the truth, and what that truth consists of in the final analysis.
A manuscript entitled 1967 is sent to an old friend by a dying man. It is divided into sections, finally Spring, Summer and Fall. Are we to believe the original narrator, or, for that matter, believe the transitional narrator? What is their agenda, if any? Did, or could the events chronicled in the manuscript have happened, or are they the product of a weak and/or deranged mind? Murder, betrayal, intrigue abound, Auster style.
Each reader must decide for themselves.
Recommended 4/5
This was an inadvertent reread for me, as I believe I mentioned elsewhere. I am glad it happened though.
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Oranges and Sunshine - about a British social worker who uncovered the scandal of children deported to Australia without their parents konwledge or consent.
I seem to recall a documentary on that several years ago, perhaps as much as 10 years? Horrible.
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Is that the 4 pack? I have that, and have been thinking I really should get onto them.
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Great review of Disgrace Brian. I've only read Elizabeth Costello of his so far but have Disgrace on the shelf. I think. Have to check. I've been on the fence about it till now. Thanks.
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Aw, thanks Pont! And YES, I would absolutely love to come and live with you while I organise your books! It would probably be a permanent job though, because you'd be buying them as fast as I could catalogue/organise them!
That sounds like a dream job!! (Seriously, if that was a real career option, I would absolutely become a Book Organiser.)I am woefully behind with Banville, as you probably noticed. I will make it my mission to read one Banville books this year.
Thass ok, you'll catch up.
You know.....I bet there are those that would pay to have their libraries organized and catalogued. Probably not enough to make a real living at, at first. However who knows what could develop? Seriously.
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I like the happy reading year as well, if we are reading, it stands to reason we are reasonably happy. Right?
So, Happy Reading!!
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I've edited the second post on this thread to show the Reading Lists I have compiled over the last 6 years. 2007 was the first year I kept track of what and when I read titles.
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Happy reading in 2013, Pontalba! I look forward to reading your reviews and all about your book-buying adventures.
LOL, thanks Kylie. Adventures they are indeed. Now that we are doing a bit of traveling, there are new cities to explore for just that purpose!
I just heard about a great bookstore in Oxford, Mississippi and that just happens to be William Faulkner's home town. Only a 5 hour drive from here.
Happy reading for 2013 pontalba
Good luck with your reading this year Ponalba
Thanks so much Brian and Kidsmum! I hope to manage more this year than last, perhaps to come back up to previous years totals.
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Thank Devi! I hope you will too. It seems all of us have a pretty good start! /fingers crossed/
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Heck, I'd prefer snow to the drizzle, rainy, gray, nastiness we've had the last week or so. Not likely down here, but it has happened, very occasionally. Very occasionally. lol
Found a couple of bargains at a local dress shop today, then we stopped for ham and cheese poboys from a place called Heavenly Ham...it really is heavenly. yum
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I don't know why but I keep coming up with stuff I want to look into!
I was in bed this morning, realising that as I'm now 31, I have lived one third of my life (if I were to live to past 90yo). If I read 80 books a year on average, but won't manage to reduce TBR more than with 10 titles per year... And keep on buying as much as I have in the past... *crunching numbers* well let's just say, I'm in big trouble! And please don't laugh Claire, I know you are good with numbers and could do those calculations at the drop of a hat 
First of all. I thought Kylie was organized in her, er, extensive lists. My girl, you take the cake. I love it. I don't know how you do it, but I love it. I think we need both of y'all organizing us!
Although I firmly believe we are hopeless cases.
Regarding number of books vs. number of years............./sigh/ I've stopped worrying about it. I know we won't catch up, but man, oh man, it's fun running. Happy Reading!!
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WOW Kylie! You are the Master of Lists, the Bestest Organizer Ever!
Would you like to come and live with us for however long it takes to organize our books?? Please?? LOL
Is that Gaimen's dog? Gorgeous. Reminds me of a dog I had.
Read Banville.
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finished The Light Between Oceans (loved it) and will start A Friend of the Family tonight
I dithered about buying that one, and finally did, and now am dithering about when to read it. Soon. Soon.
......It was a bit difficult as B'ham library is moving soon................
LOL For a split second I thought you meant Birmingham, Alabama, USA...I took a double take, as I know you're in the UK!!
Whoops! Almost forgot to post about what I'm reading. lol Reading Invisible by Paul Auster. Husband just finished it, and now we both realize we've read it before. Duh!
S'ok, neither us us remembered the end. hee hee
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Oh, gee whiz frankie, I didn't think to say it was ok.....
Very glad you both have! Thanks for the best wishes!I actually thought I'd go back and link previous book blog threads in the second post. But when I am more awake. lol
Thanks Julie, Millard really is an exhaustive researcher, I have her book on Teddy Roosevelt too, River of Doubt also. I almost feel like getting to it right away, but I don't want to read them too close together.
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Finished Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, Dangerous Instincts by Mary Ellen O'Toole, Ph.D. and Alisa Bowman last night, and Hit Me by Lawrence Block tonight. Small reviews on my book log/blog here.
Not sure what is next. I think possibly Invisible by Paul Auster. My husband just finished it.....
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Yesterday and today turned out to be excellent reading days.
I finished Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard last night.Infuriating, outrageous and so well researched and written, Destiny of the Republic chronicles the ascendancy to the Presidency of the United States by James A. Garfield and his tragic and untimely assassination. He didn't want or seek the position, it was thrust upon him, quite literally by the political waves around him. In the style of the time, he did not even campaign after he was nominated. It was considered beneath the dignity of the candidate to stump around the country begging for votes. What a wonderful concept, and profound contrast to today.
However dirty politics were just as dirty, possibly a slight bit dirtier than they are today. A different brand of dirt I'd venture to say.
Millard goes over in excruciating detail the medical "treatment" that Garfield received, which was in fact more a factor in his death than the bullet wounds themselves.
A fascinating piece of history I was not familiar with in the least. It kept me totally wound up from front to back.
If you are a history buff, you must read this! 4/5
I also managed to finish another book last night...Dangerous Instincts by Mary Ellen O'Toole, Ph.D. and Alisa Bowman. The sub-title is "Use an FBI profiler's tactics to avoid unsafe situations." That may be tooting it's own horn a bit much, but it does contain some great common sense advice for getting out of, or really managing NOT to get into dangerous situations. Her methodology is precise and to the point. The book is also interspersed with fascinating stories of O'Toole's FBI career as a profiler. She interviewed many of the serial killers of the last several decades, playing a pivotal role in their captures, and interviews. If you like lists, this is a great book for you.
Recommended 3.5/5
Just finished a little while ago the newest Lawrence Block, Hit Me.....another in the Keller series. This is the series that introduced me to Block's writing. He has a direct and straight from the shoulder prose that states the facts. Keller is a hit man, but he is trying to quit. He has a wife and child now, living in post-Katrina New Orleans and doing ok for himself.
Block tells Keller's stories in a sort of series of novellas.....they connect, and refer to each other, but could stand independent of each other.
This one started off a bit slowly for me, but came up to speed about a third of the way through, and really delivered.
Recommended. 4/5
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I checked "normal kindle" meaning the original, with keyboard. Not a touch model.
We both have one, and we also have one Kobo, but don't use it anymore. It became difficult to download as it was the time Borders was actually breaking up. I'd be hard pressed to say exactly where it even is at the moment.
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As far as a murder is concerned the book (I just finished) mentioned above, Dangerous Instincts, Use An FBI Profiler's tactics to avoid unsafe situations by Mary Ellen O'Toole gives a chilling stastistic. Our of 14,000 murders (in the U.S.) about 1,700 (or so) were committed by someone the victim knew. Not A Stranger!
Keeping a record of book passages
in General Book Discussions
Posted
I don't do too much note taking anymore. But when I do I tend to underline in pencil, and bracket the suspect lines in the margin. Cross references also. Occasionally I'll write a definition of an unknown word in the margin as well.
I know many people, like Devi above don't like to mark their books, and I can appreciate that. I verra rarely mark a good hardback, but trade paperbacks are at my mercy!
I look upon them as workbooks.
poppy, I tried using the teensy sticky notes and my copy of Lolita ended up looking like some weird quilt thingy! lol So I made notes instead.