~Andrea~
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Posts posted by ~Andrea~
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Well it's been a while since I've been on here! I can't believe I'm so late in setting up my reading log. What a year it's been! Aside from the pandemic and lockdown, I was made redundant in January, from a job I'd been in for 19 years! Fortunately I managed to find another job pretty quickly and started in my new place about six weeks later in February. It's been a strange start though; after only about a month of starting we all began working from home. But that's actually been fine and we have plenty of video meetings - at least two a day, so it doesn't feel too remote.
I haven't done a great deal of reading though. And because I haven't set this thread up until just now I haven't been making a note of what I've been reading so far, so I'm not entirely sure what I've read. I've just noted down what I can remember.
I'm currently reading Slade House by David Mitchell, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I will try and get round to some reviews of my 2020 reading at some point!
Happy reading in 2020 everyone!! Thread open!!
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Previous logs:
2019 (18)
2018 (14)
2017 (10)
2016 (9)
2015 (10)
2014 (19)
2013 (21)
2012 (19)
2011 (17)
2010 (19)
2009 (23)
2008 (26)
2007 (21)Completed:
Magpie - Sophie Draper
Introducing Political Philosophy, A graphic guide
Introducing Economics, A graphic guide
Life Expectancy - Dean Koontz
Slade House - David Mitchell
This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
A Tiny Bit Marvellous - Dawn French
Various short stories by Edgar Allen Poe and Guy de Maupassant
Currently reading:A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Abandoned
Dark Fire - C J Sansom
I am Pilgrim - Terry Hayes
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I will - eventually. I've only just seen the first two series so I'm a bit behind. Love it though!
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On 15/11/2019 at 8:11 PM, willoyd said:
Dolly by Susan Hill ***
Read as a book group choice. Fairly slim volume. Bog standard, and rather cliched, ghost story fare: isolated and bleak location (fens)? check; grim weather? check; orphan? check; spoiled child? check; single elderly relative (aunt)? check; grim, suspicious housekeeper? check; spooky doll? check; mysterious toy shop? check; and so on and so on. Maybe slightly different combinations, but whilst this was never less than very readable (this is Susan Hill after all), it was all so utterly predictable. Three stars, rather than two, for the readability, but half a star for originality.
I'm sure I have a Susan Hill on my bookshelves somewhere - I've never read anything by her before, although I've seen The Woman in Black on stage and screen. I'm intrigued to see how cliched it is now, though the readability factor is encouraging.
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On 26/11/2019 at 7:58 PM, Raven said:
This is supposition on my part of course, but the replacing of the Martian in the first episode with a spinning black orb and the lack of the Thunderchild in the second (amongst other scenes that are missing) makes me think His Dark Materials got all of the BBC's effects wonga.
Don't forget there's an election coming up.They need a big budget for all the silly graphics they show before the votes start coming in.
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12 hours ago, Hayley said:
I have Frenchman's Creek on my shelf so I'm glad you liked it and it's good to hear that it's an easy read because I wasn't expecting that it would be at all!
Oh good. I hope you enjoy it Hayley.
1 hour ago, Madeleine said:I agree about Frenchman's Creek, very different to her other books in that it's quite light, a good summer read but not that memorable compared to some of her other novels.
Yes it would have been a good holiday read actually. Not a book that stays with you but a decent bit of escapist fiction.
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Frenchman's Creek by Daphne Du Maurier
From Amazon: To escape the shallowness of court life, Dona retreats to Navron, her husband's remote Cornish estate. There, she seeks peace in its solitary woods and hidden creeks. But she finds instead a daring pirate, hunted by all Cornwall, a Frenchman who, like Dona, would gamble his life for a moment's joy. Together, they embark upon a quest rife with danger and glory, one which bestows upon Dona the ultimate choice: sacrifice her lover to certain death or risk her own life to save him.
This was an enjoyable romantic adventure, with fine prose as one would expect from du Maurier, but quite a light read compared to some of her other work. The story moves along at a good pace and I read it quite quickly (for me). I liked the central characters (in spite of some dubious moral choices). Essentially it's a story to escape into rather than one which makes you think too deeply.
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I knew a lot of people don't like the Tom Cruise one, but I think it's really good. I can't really remember the family stuff at the end. I thought the little girl playing the daughter in it was very good.
I agree about George standing around with his mouth open in the BBC version
I haven't read the book either
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I didn't mind it. It didn't blow me away but I quite enjoyed it. I'll watch it next week. Not as good as the Tom Cruise version though.
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Oh I really enjoyed Cassandra Darke. I'd definitely recommend that. And it's quite Christmassy so would be a good seasonal read!
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14 hours ago, Munipenny55 said:
I don't like anything too heavy, i would rather be spiritually inspired and follow my own meandering path.
I can relate to that.
In terms of the bible itself, there are bits of it I do love actually, Genesis for instance (in spite of its challenges) and there are some wonderful and really interesting things like Job and Ecclesiastes that I'm also drawn to, and some of the psalms.
I could happily leave the law though. Leviticus. Ugh!
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14 hours ago, willoyd said:
I do agree! Have you read Madame Bovary? It's a while since I read both, but I remember the parallels were really interesting,
I'm afraid I haven't. Would you recommend it? Have you read any other Posy Simmonds?
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I'm a Christian too, although I must say the bible is not my favourite book. In fact I often struggle with it somewhat. I also don't really think of it as a 'book' as such but more as a collection of writings. I find it much less cohesive than an actual book, although clearly consistent threads and themes can be found running through it.
I've been reading Alister McGrath's book, 'Christian Theology, an introduction' this year, and among other things it discusses the origins of the Christian canon and how it was put together. I've found that very interesting.
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This looks great! Good cast too. I'm looking forward to it!
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This author sounds really interesting. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Thanks Rybread. That looks interesting!
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Haha that sounds a little unusual. However, if it works it works. Wherever you can get some quiet I guess.
I do 90% of my reading in bed. Occasionally I'll read in the garden or (rarely) in the living room.
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Hi and welcome Munipenny
I enjoyed Far from the Madding Crowd. Look forward to chatting with you in the forum.
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15 hours ago, poppy said:
If you enjoy humorous, well written books, you'll like hers, Andrea. Similar to Erma Bombeck if you're familiar to her, but I actually like Betty's books more.
Just realised there's one of hers I haven't reviewed!
I do. Not heard of Emma Bombeck but I'm already sold on Betty McDonald.
14 hours ago, poppy said:The Diary of Two Nobodies by Mary Killen and Giles Wood
After watching the TV programme Googlebox, I discovered my favourite couple had written a book together. Giles is particularly eccentric and reading the pairs diary entries about each other is amusing.
★★★
That sounds good too! This thread is becoming a dangerous place
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I'm really fancying a bit of something spooky or a dark mystery this Autumn. I might dip into my Edgar Allen Poe short stories and I think I have a Susan Hill lying around somewhere.
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I'd never heard of Betty McDonald but she sounds really interesting. I might have to read one of her books now!
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1 hour ago, Madeleine said:
I agree with you re My Cousin Rachel, very much a psychological drama, Frenchman's Creek is much lighter than Du Maurier's usual work.
Yes FC is quite a light read actually, more of a romantic adventure story so far.
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Great review of Rebecca, Willoyd. I must must must read it soon, though from what you've said I'm assuming having seen the old black and white film will spoil it somewhat. I'm currently enjoying Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek at the moment. I'd recommend My Cousin Rachel as another of hers you might enjoy: an intelligent and well written dark romantic drama with a touch of the thriller about it (without being overly thriller-ish).
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Gemma Bovary by Posy Simmonds
From Amazon: Gemma is your average girl-about-London. Dumped by her ambitious lover, she rebounds onto a safe bet, gentle furniture restorer Charles Bovery. But Charles comes with an ex-wife and children and Gemma baulks at being the unpaid baby-sitter. When money falls into her lap, Gemma flees London and drags Charles to Normandy, where she spices up her increasingly dull marital life with a bit on the side named Patrick Large. But then she dies, under mysterious circumstances.
I read this when on a break from the previous read (The Well) while in post (minor) op recovery and it was the best medicine I could have asked for. I loved it. Great artwork, great writing, great characters, great plot and plenty of humour to boot. I think I'm rapidly becoming a Posy Simmonds megafan!
Andrea in 2020
in Past Book Logs
Posted
Thanks everyone
I definitely recommend Slade House Hayley. I've finished it now and will try and do a proper review soon.