pickle Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 just been recommened a book by a colleague on Romania as he is going to dig in some gold mines this summer (I am jealous) and have always had a fascination with the place. Its by Patrick Leigh Fermor.....Amazon here I come!
Devi Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 (edited) I know a few people with PO boxes, but it's reasonably rare. It just gives me peace of mind about receiving my post in good condition. My postie used to jam my books in the small slot of my letterbox and ruined a few that way, so my BF at the time bought me a PO box for Christmas one year - one of the best and most thoughtful gifts I've ever received. I buy so many books online that it's worth the cost. I went shopping this afternoon and spent my birthday voucher on Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy, which I've wanted for ages. I rarely buy full-priced brand-new books from actual shops - it feels quite decadent! I love my postie, if he can't fit it in the slot of the letter box, he puts it in from the back way, or comes to the door if he sees me sitting out the front! He always asks what book I am reading (because I sit out the front with it) or what book I bought . I think he must be a reader himself. Edited March 23, 2012 by Devi
chesilbeach Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 I finished An Equal Stillness this afternoon, sat in the cafe drinking my coffee, and made a start on The Olive Season by Carol Drinkwater - I'm already 50 pages in!
poppyshake Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 I went to two branches of Waterstones yesterday, looking for two particular David Gemmell books, and they didn't have them in either shop I shall take my business elsewhere, then! <<snooty look, flounces out>> I never had you down as a flouncer .. are you a good one? .. I had you down as snooty though
Brian. Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 Got 60 pages into 2666 by Roberto Bolano and I am really not sure what to make of it. Not sure where it is going and I'm not sure I get Bolano's style but I guess I've got another 850 pages to 'get it'.
bobblybear Posted March 23, 2012 Posted March 23, 2012 My reading has been nearly non-existent for the past month, but I have next week off work so hoping to finish Gone With The Wind.
pontalba Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 Got 60 pages into 2666 by Roberto Bolano and I am really not sure what to make of it. Not sure where it is going and I'm not sure I get Bolano's style but I guess I've got another 850 pages to 'get it'. Good luck with it. I gave up at around page 500. I was totally out of sorts by the thing, and was actually snapping at everyone on account of the mood the book put me into. I felt better almost as soon as I put it aside. I just finished The Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn. The Sunday Times compared his writing to Cormac McCarthy's "tales of vengeance", and I agree. Jahn writes beautifully, and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat.
Arukiyomi Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 Good luck with it. I gave up at around page 500. hmmm but don't give up before you read the terrific description of the destruction of Atlanta... wonderful!
Brian. Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 I determined not to give up on it, I've already decided that if need be I'll just read 10 pages a day until I've done it unless I really really hate it.
Roland Butter Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 I just finished The Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn. The Sunday Times compared his writing to Cormac McCarthy's "tales of vengeance", and I agree. Jahn writes beautifully, and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. Funnily enough, I've just finished his Acts of Violence. Not my usual sort of book, but it was very well reviewed over here so I thought I'd give it a go. I enjoyed it - well written and well constructed, and while it wasn't what you'd call an uplifting tale, it certainly was gripping.
Karsa Orlong Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 I had you down as snooty though How rude! I'm not snooty, I just do a good impression. And the fact that, when I first typed that last sentence, it came out as 'snotty' should not be held against me either I'm about 300 pages into House of Suns and quite enjoying it
pontalba Posted March 24, 2012 Posted March 24, 2012 hmmm but don't give up before you read the terrific description of the destruction of Atlanta... wonderful! There is a "destruction of Atlanta" in 2666?? I determined not to give up on it, I've already decided that if need be I'll just read 10 pages a day until I've done it unless I really really hate it. I rarely give up on a book, especially after 500 pages, but this was the rare exception. Maybe in small doses, in-between other reading you'll have better success. I hope so. Funnily enough, I've just finished his Acts of Violence. Not my usual sort of book, but it was very well reviewed over here so I thought I'd give it a go. I enjoyed it - well written and well constructed, and while it wasn't what you'd call an uplifting tale, it certainly was gripping. I found that on Amazon, but also the same synopsis is under the title Good Neighbors. I suppose it must be the same book, your title in the UK, and the other over here in the US. I don't think I'll be purchasing that one, I remember the actual incident. Must have been at least 30 years ago, maybe more in NYC. /shiver/
Arukiyomi Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) There is a "destruction of Atlanta" in 2666?? ha ha! I didn't read closely enough. I thought Brian was giving up on Gone With the Wind! Come to think of it, that only has about 400 pages so... ... surreal! Edited March 25, 2012 by Arukiyomi
frankie Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) I ordered The Phantom Tollbooth and Hollow Earth from Waterstones today... It means I failed in my mission to buy no books for Lent, but I paid for most of it with Waterstones points so not so bad... I hope you'll enjoy The Phantom Tollbooth! I'm now getting into the full swing of Gone With The Wind. It took me about 3 weeks to read 20% of it, due to things going on at home, but now I'm really hooked on it. I'm so surprised at the story so far. It's nothing like I expected. And I'm now starting to warm to Scarlett. I thought she was devious little so-and-so at the beginning, but now she's quite an interesting character! I think it's a book that takes quite a few people by surprise, by how readable and enjoyable it is, and really gripping, too. I didn't expect to like it and I thought it would be such a chore to read it, but I was really sad when it ended, no matter how many hundreds of pages I'd already read of it I started and finished reading Sister by Rosamund Lupton. Another book I wouldn't have read without the BCF recommendations. I thought it was excellent, and I can't believe it's Lupton's debut novel. I'm looking forward to reading her second novel. Thanks Tunn300 for the review, back in the day, because of you I read the book I'm currently in the middle of four books and I'm going to try my hardest to finish at least two of them today, I really want to get back to reading one book at a time. I have less than 100 pages left of Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman Aged 55 3/4 by Sue Townsend, and I think I could also finally finish Literary Trivia - Over 300 Curious Lists for Bookworms. Which has been a delightful and interesting read, but fictional novels have always gotten in the way. Then it'll be back to The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and finally, Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent. I'm so behind on that one it's not funny! Edited March 25, 2012 by frankie
Devi Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 I had no intentions of buying books whatsoever when I went to a country town festival. Then I saw the second hand bookshop, 'all books on the table 50cents' read the sign out the front. "I will just look" I thought to myself, "I don't have to buy anything".... except that about an hour or so later, out walks me with 10 books (at all varying prices in the end). They had a lot more inside that I was interested in. If it weren't for my mother wanting to get a cup of tea, who knows how many more I would of bought!
pontalba Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 ha ha! I didn't read closely enough. I thought Brian was giving up on Gone With the Wind! Come to think of it, that only has about 400 pages so... ... surreal! LOL Gone With the Wind runs about a thousand pages IIRC. I had no intentions of buying books whatsoever when I went to a country town festival. Then I saw the second hand bookshop, 'all books on the table 50cents' read the sign out the front. "I will just look" I thought to myself, "I don't have to buy anything".... except that about an hour or so later, out walks me with 10 books (at all varying prices in the end). They had a lot more inside that I was interested in. If it weren't for my mother wanting to get a cup of tea, who knows how many more I would of bought! Ahhh, intentions.....I remember those......./sigh/ Isn't it wonderful to run across a book store accidentally? hee hee In the mail yesterday I received A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorhead "An extraordinary story of women, friendship, and resistance in occupied France". Also I received Dreadful Sanctuary by Eric Frank Russell "The sentence: Life imprisonment on Earth, the crime: being human!"
dawnbirduk Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 I have just finished The Tenth Chamber by Glenn Cooper, a fantastic book I just couldn't put it down. I am about to start The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall
chesilbeach Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 Started Homage To Catalonia by George Orwell this morning, but have acquired no new books today, or for the last month!
green Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 Finished The Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell on friday night,and started The Blind Side Of The Heart by Michael C White saturday night.
chaliepud Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 Gave up on Looking for Alaska, far too much teenage lust and angst for me! Started The Report (Jessica Francis Kane), very interesting so far..
Timstar Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 finished Moonraker, thought it was better then Live and Let Die but not as good as Casino Royale. Started my first book that King wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman called Thinner.
poppyshake Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 And the fact that, when I first typed that last sentence, it came out as 'snotty' should not be held against me either Yeah I had you down as snotty as well Getting on with China Mieville's Un Lun Dun .. so far, so good
Katrina1968 Posted March 25, 2012 Posted March 25, 2012 Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neal Hurston. I can't stop reading this book (except to come on BCF!)
Devi Posted March 26, 2012 Posted March 26, 2012 I had no intentions of buying books whatsoever when I went to a country town festival. Then I saw the second hand bookshop, 'all books on the table 50cents' read the sign out the front. "I will just look" I thought to myself, "I don't have to buy anything".... except that about an hour or so later, out walks me with 10 books (at all varying prices in the end). They had a lot more inside that I was interested in. If it weren't for my mother wanting to get a cup of tea, who knows how many more I would of bought! and just now, a friend called past with a box of books, 36 all up! I just need to sort through what's in there and pick what I would like to keep
frankie Posted March 26, 2012 Posted March 26, 2012 and just now, a friend called past with a box of books, 36 all up! I just need to sort through what's in there and pick what I would like to keep Some awesome friends you have! I hope you are going to list all the books you got (at the secondhand bookshop and from your friend) somewhere, I think there are a few people who are dying of curiosity
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