pontalba
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Posts posted by pontalba
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I used it for a while some years ago but I stopped when it seemed I couldn't add any books so there was no way to catalogue any books by Dutch or Belgian authors. I liked that you could edit the titles and such in the list table of your books.
Interesting, I didn't realize they were not multi-national (at that time at least). I'm pretty sure they are now though.
Are you sure it's free now? On their website I can still read
- Enter 200 items for free, as many as you like for $10 (year) or $25 (life).
edit: Am I allowed to name another GR/LT alternative here?
We joined 10 years ago, and your figures are accurate for then, at least.
We have three accounts between us. His, mine, and ours.
I've just checked out LibraryThing and it's definitely not as nice looking as GoodReads and it does look like you have to pay if you want to add more than 200 books. A one off payment of $25 does seem pretty reasonable to me although I do wish the site looked a bit more inviting. It also says on the homepage you can also keep track of movies and music too and I do like the idea of being able to log movies as well as books.
Hmmm... decisions, decisions. GoodReads or LibraryThing?
The main reason I list all of our books on Library Thing is that they accept duplicates without any extra clicking. At first GR didn't accept duplicates, then they added the feature.....but it's more clicks than I want to bother with, so while I list books as I read them on GR (now), I don't bother with general purchases.
Plus, I don't have kindle books on either site (unless I've put it as I have read them).
The groups are more easily accessed on GR, but for all other purposes, I'll take Library Thing over it.
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I've finished a few books since I last posted.
Havana Nocturne by T. English
Damage by Felix Francis 3/5
The Return by Hakan Nesser 4/5
Havana Nocturne was a book I'd started months ago, left in the middle, and finally finished. Phew! It's an interesting, but sometimes too drawn out account of history of the Mafia in Havana, Cuba. Of course when Fidel Castro ousted Batista, that was it for the Mafia. English gives lots of history on the various mob figures and who was in charge when, and how they got along, or didn't. While extremely interesting, the book was a bit repetitive, and could have used a good editor.
I've already written about the Francis book, Damage, up thread. Suffice it to say, I doubt I'll look for more of the series. Darn shame.
The Return (An Inspector Van Veeteren Mystery) by Hakan Nesser is the third in this series. I love the character of Van Veeteren. He has an abrupt manner about him that gels along with the others of his unit. His "sixth sense" about crimes and criminals is unerringly accurate and almost spooky in it's aspect. But without a hint of hocus-pocus, or unreality. He is just plain intuitive. Beautifully so.
In this installment, he is admitted to the hospital for surgery, and practically solves the case from his bed, reading reports from his second. Three murders are involved, and the guilt or innocence of the alleged culprit is not written in stone. VV's solution is both elegant and chilling.
Recommended.
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I love your explanation of "on the shelf" Pontalba, most of mine are "on the floor" but I get your meaning!
I've read a couple of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole books and enjoyed them.
As my Mother would have said, "its the same difference". -
Here it hasn't been too bad. Rainy, but NOTHING like just (barely) to the West of us. OMG, what those poor people have gone through, and have to yet go through. Flooding, thousands are out of their homes, their homes are gone....just gone. http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/18/us/louisiana-flooding/
We are still getting a bit of rain every day, but that only keeps the temperatures down, and that's welcome.
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Still, they`re on an actual shelf, rather than a book pile on the floor (like lots of mine
), so that`s progress ? Well......"on the shelf" is a relative term.......
They're around here. Lets put it like that. /sigh/ I think I've about had it with Felix Francis books that are entitled "Dick Francis' ________". The last one I read, Damage was rather disappointing. Seemed generic and 1930-ish...and not in a good or original way. He is trying to imitate his father's prose, but Felix's lacks something and for me at least, falls flat. I won't be looking for anymore.
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Excellent reviews. Sorry you didn't like Disclaimer too much, we'll have to disagree on that one.
Have you read the short story of Memento? Different, but excellent. I loved the film and the short story.
It's in this.... https://www.amazon.com/Adaptations-Short-Screen-Stories-Inspired/dp/1400053145/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1471668035&sr=1-1&keywords=memento+mori+jonathan+nolan There is an interesting story behind the creation of both. -
Hill Street Blues was (and still is, for me) wonderful!!
Now that I have found the whole 146 episodes of HSB on Channel 4's All 4 for free, I can watch them all again 
Ha ha, it really was the Stone Age then, in the early 80s, compered with now
. Yeah, where were the cell phones.......hah!
We've watched all of Luther...even the last series (only two eps). Wow. Wowee! Absolutely loved it. Gotta love Alice.
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The only thing I've actually read of Graves are the Claudius books. Have more on the shelf......./sigh/
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Thanks
.I always thought it was because for Dutch and Belgian children, very English-sounding names might be hard to pronounce so they change the name into something more 'Dutch'. I could be wrong though.I read E. Lockhart - We Were Liars. I quite enjoyed reading this book. I didn't guess the twists. I liked the short chapters and I liked the way the book was written. I also liked the characters, though in the beginning I had a bit of trouble remembering who was who since there are a lot of characters (though of course some are more important than others).Of course! I didn't consider that. Makes perfect sense.
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watched the first two episodes of Marcella last night.... intrigued already.
We saw it recently, loved it.
I'm getting caught up with Luther. This is not the type of series that you can skip over. You HAVE to know whats going on in the previous episode. I simply love this show!
We'd started it, but somehow fell away, I know I want to go back and start over. Very intense.
Watched the pilot episode of Hill Street Blues, and it was so good! As good I remembered it in the 80's
. I look forward to watching the other episodes too. Ditto for St. Elsewhere. Both were ground breaking series. I loved this show! I watched it "back then", you know in the Stone Age.....
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Love the pics, especially the look on the doggie's face.....hmmm, what threat is this cat (he says)?
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Great picture, Gaia! It's so comforting to see lovely piles of books!
Interesting posts above re name changes. I wonder why they change them?? That's something I have never considered!
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I watched "Julieta", the new film by Pedro Almodóvar. It has been criticized for being low-key and unexpressive compared to his other films, but I prefer the simple plot and understated acting. It's based on some short stories by Alice Munro I haven't read, so I don't know how well they're portrayed; but I appreciated how well he adapted the practical elements of her work in general, even if he didn't quite pass the whole experience to the screen. The film has merits of its own, such as a solid production design and good acting, and I enjoyed it as it is.
Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne were in two films from last year I enjoyed, "45 Years" and "Louder Than Bombs"; I think she had a great performance in the former.
I hadn't heard of the second one, but have wanted to see 45 Years.....will at some point. Recently we did watch an interesting, sort of biopic of Rampling, The Look. Here is a NYT review.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/movies/charlotte-rampling-the-look-review.html?_r=0
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Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo 4/5
Hit man falls in love with the boss's wife. Hmmmm, not the healthiest of life routes to traverse. But, obviously safety is not one of Olav's highest priorities in life.
He is a dreamer, and to some extent lives through his fantasies and imagination. He is the most unreliable of narrators, almost completely in denial of his true feelings. It isn't until the very last pages of the book that we truly understand what drives him.
Nesbo is able to create a completely different voice to his other books, and series. Seemingly simple, but oh, so complex.
Recommended.
The Outlaw Album by Daniel Woodrell 5/5
A compilation of 12 short stories, Woodrell's characters have extremely diverse voices. All of a "backwoods" sort, but oh, so different. Anything from what one might call a "Cracker", to a loquacious, educated loner. A Vietnam War survivor with PTSD to a Quantrill Raider* survivor. From a cold blooded killer to an innocent.
I couldn't stop reading.....had to go all the way through in one sitting.
Highly Recommended.
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I'm glad at least two out of three reads were pretty enjoyable for you. Shame about SPQR. I find the history of the Romans and their mythology and everything, quite interesting. Shame about the speculation parts and the way she went about it.
Thanks, Gaia. I've loved all of that from when I was a kid. Grew up reading about it.
I've been looking forward to this, though I gave up on the Pines books after book two.
It's really a great take on what we do, and why, and the directions our lives go off into. The road(s) not taken and all that. But more.
Sorry you didn't care for the Wayward Pines all the way through. There are lots of off-shoots, i.e. "fan fic", some good, some not so good.
I haven't gotten into Wayward Pines yet. Byw, I'm loving The Girl On The Train!! Thanks again for pulling up your review for me, it gave me the push
I saw you watched the movie about Niagara Falls... have you ever been there? I was little disappointed, and it's really easy to accidentally cross over to Canada lol. We got stuck at customs
Oh, you're welcome! Glad you are enjoying it!
No, I've not been to Niagara Falls, didn't make it that far north. Only as far as NYC.
What a shame that SPQR wasn't better.
off to look up Edith Hamilton ! Edith Hamilton and also Bullfinch's Mythology. Both good in different ways. But there are loads more.
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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch 4/5
Suppose you were attacked on the street, beaten, then woke up in a world that looked like yours, where people knew who and what you were.......but it wasn't your world. Jason Dessen is in just that position. Has he lost his mind? Has everyone else? How is it he being hailed for the discovery of a lifetime, but has no clue as to what it is?
Identity and how we hold onto just who and what we are is at the crux of this novel. It's one exciting ride. Oh, the possibilities!
Highly recommended.
btw, Crouch is the author of the Wayward Pines books. Just sayin'............
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I've finally managed to finish SPQR by Mary Beard. 3/5
/sigh/ Rather disappointing in the end. I'd read about a third of it some months ago, then last week sped through most of the rest and last night finished off the last 40ish pages. Beard is, I'm sure, a fine historian. This book is supposed to be a sort of introduction, overall picture of how Rome began. I've not formally studied Roman history, but have read quite a lot, especially the times of the Caesars. Beard begins with Cicero, and then views Roman history from that vantage point. Interesting concept, it's true.
However a very large percentage of what she writes is speculation, which is frustrating. She states "facts", then turns around and says....well.......it could have been this other way. Which considering the scarcity of real, or hardly any records of the far back times is logical. But it's the way she goes about it that is so irritating. She throws in some concrete factoids, taken from tombs of those times that have survived, but most of what she puts down is at least half speculation.
When I was a kid, I read all of the Mythology, and have forgotten most of the details, only retaining the outlines and images. But it seemed to me that Beard incorporated a great deal of that in her telling. Frankly, Edith Hamilton was lots more interesting!
Also finished The Man Who Would Not Be Washington by Jonathan Horn. 4/5
It's the story of General Robert E. Lee, he was the Confederate General that (reluctantly) fought in the American Civil War. His wife was the Great-Granddaughter of George Washington, and his father was closely tied to Washington. This book covers all the intricacies of the familial relationships.....which frankly became a bit tiresome. The various battles of the War were chronicled, but not so closely so as to become tedious.
For me the best part was the telling of Lee's struggles with himself, and his struggles to do the right thing. It was finally up to him to execute the wills of Washington & family......the freeing of the slaves that had been held by the Washington family. Money was always a problem as Lee's father was rather a spendthrift and wasted lots more than he'd had. Lee's military career and postings (way before the Civil War) so far away from home conflicted with those duties.
It's an excellent portrait of a complicated man, and an even more complicated and terrible time in our history.
Highly Recommended.
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I, Anna starred Gabriel Byrne and Charlotte Rampling. A strange, noir(ish) sort of film, 2012. It's difficult to know what to believe about it throughout, if it were a novel, the narrator would be unreliable in the extreme. Very well done.
The American Side, meaning the American side of Niagara Falls. The river and falls straddle the American/Canadian border. The film incorporates the Falls beautifully.......man, oh man! The story itself is rather confusing, but about halfway through it coalesces to some extent and comes up a bit. A muddled, mystery, spy sorta thing. Kinda meh, but just to see the Falls themselves is just about worth it.
There were some good actors in it, but wasted, imo. We also watched Touching Evil, starring Robson Green and Nicola Walker. Nine one and a half hour shows that are about solving serial killings, or various sorts of icky crimes. Excellent acting, well done twisty stories involving both the detectives and the crimes they are attempting to solve.
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Ok, found the review for Gone Girl, here 'tis. http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/11186-pontalbas-2013-reading-list/?p=356111
Interestingly (or confusingly) enough, there are two books with very similar names.
First the one of which you are speaking The Girl On The Train.
Now for the (almost) doppelganger title... Girl On A Train. I must not have reviewed it, or at least can't find it, but I did find on Good Reads that I rated it 4 stars. . So, here is the Amazon link for it. https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Train-J-Waines/dp/1508647941/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1470192387&sr=1-2&keywords=The+girl+on+a+train
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I have read both. I probably wrote reviews, but am not sure. I liked them both pretty well.
I know some didn't care for the ending of Gone Girl, but I loved it.
On iPad, but will search later.
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Must admit I've missed most of the news about it? Is it that bad over there then? I usually try and watch the field events, the diving. Not so fussed on the running heats.
Not only the Zika virus problem, which is rampant, but the crime seems to be pretty bad. Some of the athletes have already been robbed. And the authorities have warned the Olympians not to put their head underwater, and not to breathe too deeply when near the river.
Sounds pretty awful to me. I can hardly believe the conditions in which they are expected to perform.
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I've read several of her books, both series, and somehow they always left me a bit.....I don't know. Off somehow. I wanted to like them, but there was always something missing for me. I didn't find out about her past until I'd already read several of hers. I'm not sure how I feel about that....a bit creepy I think.
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It turns out that the Jim Thompson book I was reading Pop. 1280 is another version of Thompson's The Killer Inside Me. I'd read the latter a while back and thoroughly enjoyed it. But this version is not half so palatable. I simply could not take the protag's voice in Pop. 1280........it grated on my last nerve. So, I put it aside after a bit. Bleech.
The Two Faces of January by Patricia Highsmith 3.5/5
In a rather seedy hotel in Athens, a man witnesses someone disposing of what appears to be a dead body, and decides to help him. Said witness then falls in with the killer and his wife, helping them in various ways. Highsmith weaves a tale of suspicion and murder whose culmination you may not guess.
I loved Highsmith's Ripley series, all five of them. Well mostly, one or two were a bit weaker than the others. But, all in all, great storytelling. And, in spite of the er....moral character (or lack thereof) of Ripley, he was interesting. I think that is the crux of my dissatisfaction with this novel. The main protag is simply not fully formed, so therefore not completely there.
Vanished (a Nick Heller Novel) by Joseph Finder 3.5/5
Kidnapping (or is it?), suspense, double crosses, and family values. When Nick Heller's nephew makes a frantic call for help, telling him that his father has been kidnapped and his mother inured during the kidnapping, Nick swings into action. Doesn't matter that he has hardly seen his brother in years......he's family. Nick's Special Forces skills will all come into play to get to the bottom of this rather convoluted happening.
This is a promising first entry of what appears to be an action filled series.
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Well, in my personal opinion, not all books have to be particularly enlightening. I know there are people who disagree, though. For me, I'm happy if I really enjoyed reading a book
.Agreed. And, truthfully, any book tells us something about the possibilities of human nature. Just to see how someone reacts.....if an author can imagine it, it's happened in real life. Sorta like "never say never".
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I remember the Poldark series on TV from the 1970's, liked it a lot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poldark_(1975_TV_series) I haven't read any of the books though. Glad you're enjoying them.
I have read a few of the Donna Leon books, and liked them too.