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BS: Read any good books lately?
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: jacqui.c Date: 27 Apr 08 - 10:00 PM I'm now onto the third book in the Saxon series - Kings of the North. Difficult to put down. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Little Hawk Date: 28 Apr 08 - 01:29 AM I tried the Philip Pullman trilogy. The first one was great. I didn't like the second one much. Decided not to read the third installment. I don't think I like whatever it is that he believes about life very much at all. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 28 Apr 08 - 05:34 AM Little Hawk - I love children's/young adult fantasy so I eagerly read Vol 1 of the series & stopped half way thru Vol 2. I've read lotsa' books where heroes die, who hasn't (& DON'T ANYONE TELL ME WHO DIED IN THE FINAL VOL. OF HARRY POTTER as I really must get around to reading it) but I didn't like the way characters were killed off & I think your response says it for me, too. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Amergin Date: 28 Apr 08 - 05:55 AM Ron dies in the last one.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Rowan Date: 28 Apr 08 - 06:23 PM Amergin, that was nasty And untrue |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: john f weldon Date: 29 Apr 08 - 09:01 AM LHawk & Sandra in S: A good decision. Part 3 has the dreariest vision of the Universe since Kurt Vonnegut, but without the humour. It would drive you to suicide, except that his afterlife is even worse! The most notable quality of Pullman is the total lack of humour, quite the opposite of JKRowling. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 29 Apr 08 - 12:24 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 29 Apr 08 - 12:30 PM Sorry, hit the wrong thingy. I just finished one of the best travel book I have read; The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byron, excellent. written in the 1930's abiut his travels from Tehran to Oxiana. It certainly reminds me how much the world has changed in a very short time. Also finished a mystery Called The Janissary tree by Jason Goodwin. It introduces inspector Yashim in 1830's Istamboul. He is excellent at re creating the atmosphere of time and place. There is now a sequel, which I have not read as yet, it is called The Snake Stone. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Little Hawk Date: 29 Apr 08 - 12:40 PM "the dreariest vision of the Universe since Kurt Vonnegut" Yes, I figured that was where it was going. The overall impression I got was that Philip Pullman's personal philosophy is that of some kind of zealot with a big hate on for something (Organized religion, I presume?) and that his general view of life has been so poisoned and compromised by that one big hate that he's become downright depressing to listen to...so why even bother? His nihilistic attitude stirs loathing in me, frankly. After finishing book 2 I had no intention of contributing further to his income by buying the 3rd book. Pity, considering that the first book was an excellent adventure story. Whatever Philip's view is of his personal universe, I definitely don't want to be there. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,Jim Martin (Hen Harrier) Date: 29 Apr 08 - 05:11 PM 'The Boy at the Swinging Lantern' is a wonderful story, I managed to get a 2nd hand copy from: http://www.childrensbookshop.com |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Gulliver Date: 29 Apr 08 - 05:47 PM Another book on South Asia, now reading: From Kashmir to Kabul, the Photographs of John Burke and William Baker, by Omar Khan. Great photos from the 1860s/1870s done by two Irishmen of humble origins in Afghanistan and Northern India, with an extensive commentary on the history and geography of the area, the prevailing political situation, personalities of the time, etc. Don |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 30 Apr 08 - 10:33 AM thank you hen harrier, I shall check out the site. I have just begun to re-read Eric Newby, A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush. Great read. I did read all three of Pullman's book, and although I found them troubling, I did not think them malicious in any way. It is very clear that he has an axe to grind, but the story drove me on in spite of it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Folk Form # 1 Date: 01 May 08 - 02:09 AM I have just finished The God Delusion by Richard Dawkin and God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchins. If you believe in God now, you wont after reading these books. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: paula t Date: 01 May 08 - 06:00 PM Kathryn and I are really into the Michelle Paver books (young adult/teenage),"Wolf Brother" and the others in the series.We are eagerly waiting for the next one to be published. I actually enjoyed reading the "Dark Materials" trilogy, although I felt rather flat by the end.Guess I'm a bit old fashioned. I love the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. I have been known to laugh out loud or occasionally sniffle at some of the clever and touching moments. I love Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 01 May 08 - 06:04 PM Am now about half way through The Rudesky March by Jospeh Roth. A wonderful read. Kept me up til 2am last night. Also re read Precious Bane by Mary Webb..I do love that old stuff. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,bflat Date: 02 May 08 - 05:25 PM I recently finished A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. I read it four times consecutively because of its powerful insights. I know I'll read it again soon. I keep picking it up, randomly opening it and refreshing myself. Now reading, The Good Book by Peter J. Gomes. Ellen |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Gulliver Date: 03 May 08 - 04:56 PM HiLo, I have Joseph Roth's Radetzkymarsch (the German version of Radetzky March) on my bedside table and hope to start it shortly. I'm glad you think it's a good read. One of my favourite books is by Roth, called in English (I think) The Weights and Measures Inspector (Das Falsche Gewicht in German). It was made into a great film in the 70's, starring Helmut Qualtinger and Evelyn Opela. Don |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: BK Lick Date: 03 May 08 - 08:27 PM I'm surprised no one's yet mentioned E. Annie Proulx who won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, among other major awards, for The Shipping News. Her wonderful story collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories contains "Brokeback Mountain." (Both these titles have been adapted into award winning movies.) The current issue of The New Yorker (where "Brokeback Mountain" first appeared) contains a new story titled "Them Old Cowboy Songs." I do purely love this lady's writing. —BK |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 04 May 08 - 10:03 AM I love her stuff as well. Have you read Postcards . I have finished the Joseph Roth book and have just begun The Emporors Tomb which sort of follows the same family. I just love his writing, there were many passages that I read several times. I am going to the second hand shop to look for more. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: fat B****rd Date: 04 May 08 - 02:20 PM Ms. Proulx "Accordion Crimes" IMHO is a great read. I've had to cherry pick the main points from books about the British Suffragette Movement for my college work recently but right now it's time to relax with Spenser (Robert B. Parker not Edmund) and Widow's Walk. Read a couple of books about the late Linda Smith's life and work not long ago. She's sadly missed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 05 May 08 - 12:48 AM Rant on: A lot of folks in Wyoming don't like her stuff. I tried, I really tried, based on Mudcatters' recommendations. I recently had a copy of her Wyoming stories, read them aloud to my Rog, as much as he could stand. We are both very open-minded and like to share good stories. He made me stop, each time I tried to read one of her stories, because he couldn't stand it. We both detest her writing. I think one of the reasons is, Rog nailed this one, she does not love Wyoming. When she writes of it, she portrays an ugliness, a negative side which she sees and none of its beauty. She is a user, a usurper, and imo a lousy writer. I would put my descriptive writing about Wyoming up against hers any day and feel confident folks would prefer mine. Rant off Just read Sabbathday River by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Also had a great, good time reading Kinsella's Undomestic Goddess. What a hoot! I am reading a Gemma James mystery right now, by Crombie. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Rowan Date: 05 May 08 - 06:19 PM Ms. Proulx "Accordion Crimes" IMHO is a great read. When I read it I found it interesting as narrative but redolent of 'decay' rather than of 'life'. I was amused, however, by her confusion of graphics wherein she included a concertina (a Jeffries as I recall) among all the various versions of accordions and melodions. Accordion Crimes was my first exposure to her writing and it didn't inspire me to explore her further. Perhaps that is a pity. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 09 May 08 - 08:59 AM I have just finished reading Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. It got glowing reviews and I was urged by my book reading friends to reaf it as it is considered a twentieth century classic. I would bwe very interested to know what others think. I thought it was a very flawed and unrewarding book. Am I missing something ? It cannot compare, IMO, with Joseph Boydens book Three Day Road, when it come to WW1 stories. Any thoughts ? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Mr Red Date: 09 May 08 - 09:07 AM go to bed with a good book........ or a friend who's read one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Becca72 Date: 09 May 08 - 09:25 AM I'm most of the way through "Violets are Blue" by James Patterson. It's one of his detective Alex Cross books and he never fails to entertain. This one's got vampires in it, too so it's right up my alley! :-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: dulcimer42 Date: 28 May 08 - 07:14 PM "The Shack" by William P. Young. A MUST READ!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Riginslinger Date: 28 May 08 - 09:10 PM "Invasion Of The Bible Thumpers," by Skookum Maguire |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Donuel Date: 28 May 08 - 09:21 PM I did a graphic poster "Bible Thumper" It was a Bible with the Disney character Thumper giving it a thump with his hind foot. In the background other bunnies were doing what bunnies do. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 28 May 08 - 10:47 PM Donuel, I'd love to see that one! Just finished a re-read of Louis L'Amour's Walking Drum. Still just as excellent as the first time, twenty years ago or so. And, now, with the internet, I can look up some of the intriguing places of which he wrote and learn so much more. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Big Al Whittle Date: 29 May 08 - 02:27 AM just reading a sight for sore eyes by Ruth Rendell. i sometimes feel she sees everybody not earning a hundred grand a year as halfway to being an unfathomable inarticualte psychopath. maybe she's got a point. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 10 Jun 08 - 03:25 PM Among the several I've read recently, I really enjoyed Fannie Flagg's Standing in the Rainbow and think every American baby boomer should read it. Also Randy Lee Eickhoff's novel about Wild Bill Hickok, And Not To Yield. Made me want to read a lot more non-fiction about him. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Becca72 Date: 10 Jun 08 - 04:26 PM I finished Cradle And All by James Patterson a short while ago and LOVED it. Now I'm reading Widow's Walk by Robert B. Parker. You just can't go wrong with a Spenser novel. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 10 Jun 08 - 04:38 PM I'm a sucker for submarine warfare stories, so I just finished "Send Down A Dove" by Charles MacHardy about a British submarine and her crew in the waning days of WWII. An excellent read, it was recommended to me by Tom Lewis, chanty singer and writer extraordinaire, who also happens to be an ex-RN submariner. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Big Mick Date: 10 Jun 08 - 04:59 PM Your life should not end until you have read Clean Cabbage in the Bucket and Other Tales from the Irish Music TrenchesEspecially if you are a musician, but fans will love it as well. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Peace Date: 10 Jun 08 - 08:22 PM I am presently reading a collection of short stories by Skookum Maguire entitled "Invasion of the Bible Thumpers." It is wonderful writing and very entertaining reading by an accomplished author named . I will provide the how and where to get it info tomorrow when I have the book in hand. "SHORT STORY - FICTION WINNER: Invasion of the Bible Thumpers, by Skookum Maguire (iUniverse)" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 10 Jun 08 - 09:48 PM dulcimer42 - I listed my first batch of books at the swap site and have ordered my first two in exchange. Couldn't have been easier! Thanks, again. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Art Thieme Date: 11 Jun 08 - 12:36 AM The Ponga Jim Mayo stories by Louie Lamour are great to read over and over again. Pure noir action dramas---each and every one! Art |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:10 AM Wow, Mick! Now I know how Alison feels. Thanks. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Bat Goddess Date: 11 Jun 08 - 09:43 AM I just wrapped up the last 100 pages (I read the rest of the book, too!) this morning of Kitty Kelley's "The Family: The Real Story of the Bush Dynasty". Compelling reading; explains a lot. Linn |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Lowden Jameswright Date: 11 Jun 08 - 10:09 AM "The State We're In" - a great insight into the wasted Thatcher/Tory years by Will Hutton "Robinson Crusoe" - always worth a re-visit now and again. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Acorn4 Date: 12 Jun 08 - 09:01 AM "The Rise and Fall of Merry England" by Ronald Hutton -OUP 1994. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 20 Jul 08 - 07:58 PM Can't find the reference, now, but to whomever recommended (one of our Australian members, if i remember rightly) Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," thank you! Have just finished it and found it to be delightful! I am now off to see if anyone on bookswap has the next one in the series. Also, just finished The Illuminator which was really good, though I would have preferred a different ending. Really well worth the read, though. Also, enjoyed a couple of James Doss books; he does for the Southern Ute Indians, what Tony Hillerman did for the Navajo and Hopi, ala mysteries. Good reads! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Rowan Date: 20 Jul 08 - 08:12 PM Can't find the reference, now, but to whomever recommended (one of our Australian members, if i remember rightly) Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," thank you! Have just finished it and found it to be delightful! I am now off to see if anyone on bookswap has the next one in the series. Mea culpa, kat; glad you liked it. The same standard is maintained through all of the series. Cheers, Rowan |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: katlaughing Date: 20 Jul 08 - 08:16 PM Thanks, Rowan! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,number 6 Date: 20 Jul 08 - 09:21 PM "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen biLL |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Alice Date: 20 Jul 08 - 10:08 PM Just finished The House Without A Key, by Earl Derr Biggers, the first Charlie Chan mystery. Then started an Ellery Queen, The Roman Hat Mystery. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: jacqui.c Date: 20 Jul 08 - 10:56 PM I'm most of the way through The Road To McCarthy, by Pete McCarthy. It's a shame he died before writing a third book. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,Volgadon Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:39 AM Sabatini's Historical Nights Entertainment. Some of the stories are a little innacurate, but they are really fun to read. I only have volume two and in it everyone seems to die, almost as bad as trad ballads. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: Ruth Archer Date: 21 Jul 08 - 07:35 AM biLL, i recently read Water for Elephants - i really liked it. The Book Thief was WONDERFUL - but prepare to cry. A lot. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Read any good books lately? From: GUEST,HiLo Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:19 AM I see that Guest bflat has mentioned Eckhart Tolle. I have tried reading his books but I find them infuriating. I must be missing something..it seems he has latched on to the art of the obvious..or perhaps I am looking for more than he is offering. I know that millions are enthralled..but he leaves me.........puzzled. I have just finished The Uses and Abuses of History by Margaret MacMillan. very thought provoking read. |
