Member: myers3

Glad you liked The Colour of Milk. It was a favourite of mine for last year. I have read Queen's Gambit, about Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry 8th. It was good but not brilliant. I have just upgraded it from a 3 star to 3 1/2 stars as I missed reading it once I had finished. I have now nearly finished Stay Alive My Son by Pin Yathay, which is about the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in the 1970s. A horrific book and very distressing to read, but, I also can't put it down! Next I am going to read The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks, which comes highly recommended by a book blogger that I follow. Have you read any of Banks' books?

posted by Sharkell at 3:09 am (EST) on May 20, 2013

Just finished Plainsong. It was just as good the second time around. I can't wait to hear what you thought of it. I'm now going to start Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle, about Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth wife. What will you read next?

posted by Sharkell at 8:27 am (EST) on May 11, 2013

Well, given I haven't liked Kate Atkinson in the past, I'm a little nervous. I'll decide whether or not to read it once it arrives at the library for me. I finished The Rosie Project today, a wonderful story. I think you'd like it. I've picked up Plainsong now, funny, the first book we have read together at the same time! May there be many more...

posted by Sharkell at 5:42 am (EST) on May 9, 2013

So glad your weather has improved. We are heading into winter now but we have had a nice autumn. I really wanted to read Life After Life - I'm waiting for it from the library. I have read really positive reviews and really negative reviews of it. I'm not so sure now as you and I like the same books...... I finished The Secret Keeper and read The Crane Wife by Patrick Ness which I really enjoyed. I am now reading The Rosie Project which has taken Australia by storm and it's looking lie it will be a favourite, I can recommend it already. I can't put it down, which is a bit problematic at the moment! I am going to read Plainsong again after The Rosie Project as I have chosen it as my book club choice. I laid down a challenge to see how many in my bookclub would read all three books in the trilogy during the month. I will find out next week who has done so but I know that one has already all three!

posted by Sharkell at 7:03 am (EST) on May 8, 2013

I am very slow with reading at the moment, as you have guessed, due to work commitments. I also spent the weekend in Queenstown (New Zealand) and didn't get much reading done then. Look up some pictures if you don't know anything about Queenstown in New Zealand as it is absolutely spectacular! I went for a horse ride on a deer farm, with mountains as the backdrop. Amazing! I read Pat Barker's Another World which I gave three stars. Worth reading but not spectacular. I am now reading The Secret Keeper. I am enjoying it but I have found that Kate Morton's books are very formulaic - they all seem to be quite similar to each other so I think this will be the last of hers that I will read if she doesn't change her style. I can't wait to have more time for reading but it's going to continue to be quite busy for a while yet. At least I got a lot of reading done in the school holidays. Hope you are well and that you finally get some nice weather.

posted by Sharkell at 6:32 am (EST) on Apr 30, 2013

Good to hear The Secret Keeper is good. I haven't read Addition but did read Nine Days earlier this year and really enjoyed it.

posted by Sharkell at 10:27 pm (EST) on Apr 18, 2013

How's it going? I've just finished Fall Girl by Toni Jordan - a great fun read. Highly recommended. What have you read this week?

posted by Sharkell at 8:12 am (EST) on Apr 18, 2013

Glad you liked it! I finished The Burial yesterday, highly recommended. Will wait a couple of weeks to see if I add it to my favourites to see if it sticks with me. I think it will. Just started "Fall Girl" by Toni Jordan. Happy reading....

posted by Sharkell at 5:51 pm (EST) on Apr 14, 2013

Hi Maureen. Isn't that funn - we like the same books and have done similar things with our lives. I have spent the last two days on the farm weaning cattle, mustering, drafting and treating pink eye. All fun and games but I am a little tired now. Back to the city tomorrow for school starting again on Monday. Have enjoyed my holidays and have caught up on some reading but I'm not looking forward to going back to work! I have a bit of a mess to clean up in my new temp job and I'm not looking forward to my diminished reading time. The Burial by Courtney Collins is shaping up to be another good book - it is based on the life of Australian bushranger Jessie Hickman.

posted by Sharkell at 7:39 am (EST) on Apr 13, 2013

Forgot to say. I have The Secret Keeper on my tbr pile. I have read all of her previous three novels and have loved all of them. I'm looking forward to reading this one.

posted by Sharkell at 6:33 am (EST) on Apr 12, 2013

No, I didn't see Ellen. Glad you liked the look of Melbourne - it is a great city. While we live in Melbourne we spend most of our leisure time in South West Gippsland as we have a farm there - we breed cattle and quarter horses. By the way, I have a 13 yo daughter called Ellen! Finished The Midnight Dress (at about 4am this morning) - really loved it, a great read, I think you would enjoy it. Have just started The Burial by Courtney Collins, too early to tell whether or not I will like it. My husband has read it and he said it is weird but good. What have you started?

posted by Sharkell at 5:58 am (EST) on Apr 12, 2013

No, I don't think you missed anything. I think he did write the letters, and then deliberately ignored the fact that he wrote them so he could wind himself up. The ending was a little wierd! Glad you are enjoying me before you. It is a light read but I really enjoyed it. You are doing well with your reading this week! I really liked Dancing on a Volcano, it was a riveting read, just got bogged down a little in the middle. Not sure it is widely available though, I had to buy it as my library didn't have a copy. We are having the author speak to our book club about the book this week (the author is a neighbour of one of our book club members). Can't wait for that. I am really enjoying The Midnight Dress, another Aussie book. I think you would enjoy it too!

posted by Sharkell at 11:47 pm (EST) on Apr 10, 2013

I can't believe you are still getting snow -you must be sick of it by now! We have moved into autumn now, lovely mild days and cool nights. My family and I are camping at Lakes Entrance at the moment, walking and fishing and reading and relaxing. It is wonderful. There was a market on Sunday and I managed to pick up Bitter Greens ny Kate Forsythe, Gould's Book of Fish by Richard Flanagan and Fall Girl by Toni Jordan - a very good haul. I have started reading Dancing on a Volcano by Laila Embleton, for book club, a non fiction account of two sisters, one who marries a German journalist and one who marries an English diplomat, at the beginning of the second world war. It is a fascinating read. The Sound of One Hand Clapping was very good, but it could have done in 300 pages what it did in 400. I'm glad I read it, though. What did you think of The Purchase?

posted by Sharkell at 3:26 am (EST) on Apr 8, 2013

I read Killing Me Softly last year, enjoyed it, but still didn't really make me think much different about crime novels. The Sound of One Hand Clapping is worth reading. I am only a third of the way through but it is good so far. Not a happy read, though.

posted by Sharkell at 7:57 pm (EST) on Apr 4, 2013

Hiya. What did you end up thinking of painted girls? Did you finish it? I have just read Night Surfing by Fiona Capp. A very enjoyable read, I loved how she displayed the class divides in Australia, as so many people say there are no classes in Australia. I've only given it 4 stars though as I have a feeling that it will not stay with me for long. I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks. I have now started The Sound of One Hand Clapping by Richard Flannagan, a slow start but I think I am getting into it now. What are you reading now?

posted by Sharkell at 2:37 am (EST) on Apr 4, 2013

So glad you liked The Longest Memory. I have just finished Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally, an Australian author. Very well researched, harrowing but brilliantly put together. I can never get over how some human beings treat others - I am constantly amazed. I needed something light after Schindler's Ark so I am now reading Night Surfing by Fiona Capp, a little known Australian author. I pulled it out of my tbr pile, it has been sitting there for quite some time. I didn't have any expectations as I didn't know anything about the book or the author but it is written well and is set in Victoria where I live so I am enjoying it. I am joining Kimbofo from her Reading Matters blog in an Australian writers month - it is a good way to choose some books out of my tbr pile and also some Australian authors that I have wanted to read for some time.

posted by Sharkell at 4:46 pm (EST) on Apr 1, 2013

I think the books are best read in order. They don't all have similar characters but are all set in the same town and the culture of the town is developed throughtout the books. You may miss this a bit if you read the third one first. Happy Easter!

posted by Sharkell at 4:22 am (EST) on Mar 31, 2013

Eventide is the second book in the Plainsong trilogy, Benediction is the third book. Schindler's Ark is quite an interesting book, but not particularly light and easy to read. I'm still working my way through it. Did you finish the aviator's wife? What did you think of it?

posted by Sharkell at 12:24 am (EST) on Mar 30, 2013

Finished Benediction, the third on the Plainsong seried by Kent Haruf. Another favourite, 5 stars. He is absolutely amazing! I have now picked up Schindlers' Ark (aka Schindler's List) by Thomas Keneally. I saw the movie years ago and bought the book a couple of years ago in an op shop. What are you reading now?

posted by Sharkell at 2:14 am (EST) on Mar 27, 2013

Sounds like you have a lot of books to get through. I have ordered the 100 year old man from my library but I am no. 40 in the queue! Not so bad, though, as I have a lot of books I want to get through in the next few weeks and I have taken on a temp job for the next three months (part time so not too exhausting). Sounds like your winter is like our summer - the worst ever. Who said climate change wasn't happening?

posted by Sharkell at 3:26 am (EST) on Mar 24, 2013

Finished Under The Skin and noticed that I have The Crimson and Petal (or something like that) on my wishlist after you read it. I really liked Under The Skin, Faber's first book. It is very unusual, though, can't say more without giving the plot away. I will read more of his books. Now on to the third book in the Plainsong series, it has just been released in Australia. It's good so far. How has your reding gone this week?

posted by Sharkell at 5:28 am (EST) on Mar 23, 2013

I read Gone by Jennifer Mills, a new Australian author, which was very good, very rough and gutsy, about a man who has left an institution after 15 years (you don't know what type of institution till later in the book) and hitchhikes back to his home town 4,000km away. He doesn't remember much, not even his name, and his memory comes back gradually over the time it takes him to get home. It was an interesting read but not a particularly pleasant one. I've also read A Safe Place by Lorenzo Carcaterra, which is about Lorenzo's family relationships with an abusive father. Again, not a pleasant read but very well written. I read The Sleepers a few weeks ago which is also not a pleasant read. I don't quite know why I read this stuff but I sometimes I feel like I should see how other people live who are less fortunate than I am. I have The End of Your Life Book Club on hold at the library. It was almost due to come in but I have pushed myself back to the bottom of the list as I am going to join Kim from Reading Matters on an Australian literature challenge for the month of April and want to focus on Australian books. I have a lot on my wish list and on my tbr pile. I am now reading Under The Skin by Michel Faber which was also recommended by Kim from Reading Matters. Gripping so far! What was Lark and Termite about? I see that you liked it.

posted by Sharkell at 5:58 pm (EST) on Mar 18, 2013

The Longest Memory was really good. A story about a young slave that was lashed to death, with the background to the lashing developed over subsequent chapters. Really uniquely written, quick and easy to read. Highly recommended. How are you going with your book?

posted by Sharkell at 3:45 am (EST) on Mar 12, 2013

That sounds excellent. I've requested it from my library. I'm looking forward to a quieter week this week so I'm hoping to get some reading done.

posted by Sharkell at 4:04 am (EST) on Mar 11, 2013

I haven't heard of the Immortal Life. What is it about? I didn't think much of The Perks of Being A Wallflower. A coming of age novel that really didn't have anything new to say. I have just started The Longest Memory by Fred D'Aguiar. Not much reading for me this week as I have had house guests from New Zealand. I think the LaPlante you have just picked up is supposed to be really good. I'll be interested to hear what you think. Sharon

posted by Sharkell at 6:44 am (EST) on Mar 10, 2013

I'm glad to hear you have been recommended Wallflower as I don't really like the "voice" in the book so far. I'm sure I'll get used to it. The lady that has chosen the book usually picks really good ones so I am hopeful.

posted by Sharkell at 12:49 am (EST) on Mar 4, 2013

I finished The Observations and highly recommend it. I think you will love it. I'm now reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower for book club. High rating on LT but don't know much about it. I see you have read some not so good books lately. Time for a really good one for you! What are you reading now and are you enjoying it?

posted by Sharkell at 3:40 pm (EST) on Mar 3, 2013

How are you coping with your weather? We had a break in ours overnight and it is now cooler and raining. We haven't had much rain for 2 months so it is very nice to have. My fruit trees are crying out for some water. I finished The Stone Diaries late last week and thought it was ok. The first half was good and I got really bored with the second half. I have since read Sleepers, a true story about a group of boys who spent some time at a juvenile detention centre in the US, the abuse they experienced and the impact it had on their lives. I saw the movie a few years ago. It is a great read - gripping, gutsy and shocking. I'm now trying to decide what to read next. I have Jane Harris' The Observations from the library so I might start on that one. I have heard it is nearly as good as Gillespie and I (did you end up reading that one?). What are you reading now?

posted by Sharkell at 7:09 pm (EST) on Feb 25, 2013

Just watched a news report on the Canadian debate - it looks really interesting. I would love to watch the whole thing.

posted by Sharkell at 5:02 pm (EST) on Feb 18, 2013

At 32 degrees celsius at 10 o'clock at night, I don't feel so lucky. Normally I do. You should try The Engagement, you might like it. I just don't particularly like thrillers, that's all.

posted by Sharkell at 5:49 am (EST) on Feb 18, 2013

My parents moved here from the UK before I was born and I am very happy they did. Australia is a great place to live and to raise a family. I finished The Engagement by Chloe Hooper but was a little disappointed with it. Now on to The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields as recommended by kevinfromcanada in his Canadian reading year.

posted by Sharkell at 6:19 pm (EST) on Feb 17, 2013

I haven't heard of anyone that has liked The Casual Vacancy so I'm not surprised that you didn't like it either. I didn't like Brida either but not quite so much that I put it down, although in retrospect I probably should have. Such a disappointment considering how much I liked the Alchemist and I also quite liked Veronika Decides to Die. I am getting much better at putting down books that I am not enjoying. I will often give them a second go, if I just start and think Im not really in the mood for that type of book but if I'm not enjoying it either at around page 50 or 100, I usually will give them away and move onto something that I think I will enjoy more. I have picked up The Engagement by Chloe Hooper which is a thriller, not quite my genre, but it has started off well. I've read a few thrillers recently, I'm not quite sure why. I am very excited as I picked up Border Crossing by Pat Barker in a charity shop for $1 today! I can't wait to read more of her work. We are having a heat wave in Melbourne. I don't think we've had a day under 30 degrees Celsius all week. So, I'm quite looking forward to some cooler weather. I don't think I'd like the snow much, though. Cheers. Talk soon. Sharon

posted by Sharkell at 5:07 am (EST) on Feb 15, 2013

Now that is a lot of snow! Thanks for the photos.

posted by Sharkell at 12:05 am (EST) on Feb 14, 2013

You are reading a lot at the moment! I'm still reading Brida by Paul Coelho but I'm not really enjoying it. I thought it was getting good but it really isn't. I've decided to finish it but it is a stretch. So glad you liked Toby's Room. I can't wait to read all of her other books but I will start with Life Story first. And I have another of hers in my tbr pile, not sure which one. Let me know if you do read the Regeneration Trilogy and what you think. How are you finding The Casual Vacancy?

posted by Sharkell at 11:13 pm (EST) on Feb 13, 2013

How are you going with Toby's Room? I ended up giving it 5 stars and made it a favourite. There is a website mentioned at the back of the book, make sure you look at that when you have finished (but not before), it will make it all the more real. I can't wait to read Life Story by Pat Barker now (it's in my tbr pile), which was written before Toby's Room and has some of the same characters in it. I realise now that I should have read that first but I had forgotten that they were related. It certainly had no impact on Toby's Room so I don't think it really matters and I have been assured by someone who has read them both that it doesn't matter at all. I have now moved on to Brida by Paul Coelho. I think it is just about to get good, but I'm not sure yet. I see you liked The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott. What is that about?

posted by Sharkell at 12:42 am (EST) on Feb 12, 2013

I am not surprised re The Snow Child - almost everyone I know who has read it loved it! It's such a magical book. I wonder if she's writing another? I'll have to look her up...

posted by Sharkell at 10:38 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2013

I haven't read a Stephen King for over 20 years. His is not really a genre I enjoy. I haven't been tempted to pick up a Casual Vacancy either I'm afraid, although I have read and enjoyed the first 3 Harry Potters. I'll be interested to hear what you thought of both of these books.

posted by Sharkell at 10:37 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2013

I do like an "unputdownable" book every now and again as well. I can already recommend Toby's Room, even though I've only just started it. I can tell already it's going to be a favourite!

posted by Sharkell at 4:47 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2013

I struggled to rate The Cleaner of Chartres. I liked it, didn't love it The central character was good but the story kind of fizzled out at the end. On to Toby's Room by Pat Barker which I have read a lot of good things about. What are you reading now?

posted by Sharkell at 1:10 am (EST) on Feb 7, 2013

So glad you liked Thurdsay's Child. Sonya Hartnett writes some great YA books. If you want to read more, I can reccomend Of A Boy and The Silver Donkey. I'm nearly finished The Twelve, it is not as good as The Passage. I wonder if my expectations were too high....

posted by Sharkell at 6:59 pm (EST) on Feb 1, 2013

There's always too many books and not enough time. I read The Passage in 2010 (I think) and it was probably my favourite of the year, the story stays with you. I listened to Thursday's Child on audio book and the narrator really made it. Pleased you could get that in Canada.

posted by Sharkell at 7:03 pm (EST) on Jan 30, 2013

Very pleased that you loved Gillespie and I. I've just borrowed The Observations by Jane Harris from the library (her first book???) and I am hoping to get to it soon. I'm working my way through The Twelve, it is very long and I have been away and have had little down time. I'm enjoying it but not as much as The Passage. The Twelve jumps from time period to time period and it expects that you remember everything that was in The Passage and I don't - I knew I should have reread The Passage before starting The Twelve! Oh well.

posted by Sharkell at 11:26 pm (EST) on Jan 29, 2013

I'll rule that one out then. I finished the Murakami last night. It was well written and kept me interested although the plot was a little farfetched. I'm off to New Zealand today and have packed The Twelve by Justin Cronin. I have been waiting for this book for about 18 months since I read The Passage and I can't wait!

posted by Sharkell at 4:32 pm (EST) on Jan 24, 2013

I gave upon Fifth Business after getting half way through it. I found it really boring. I don't know if you could get The Spare Room by Helen Garner in Canada but I have just finished it and really enjoyed it. It is about a sixty something woman who lets her sixty something friend who has cancer stay with her for three weeks while she undergoes some alternative treatment. A great book about dying, death and the boundaries of friendship. I have just started my first Marakami. Not sure about it yet. Have you read any of his? I see you liked Age of Miracles. What have you picked up next?

posted by Sharkell at 6:09 am (EST) on Jan 18, 2013

I have read Age of Miracles. Yes, a good, quick read and a great concept. I tried to email you at the address on your profile page, as I would love it if you could email me some pictures of your countryside, but the mail was returned.

posted by Sharkell at 1:46 am (EST) on Jan 16, 2013

Hi Maureen. I'm so pleased you liked Birdsong. I'm struggling a little with Fifth Business. It is really well written but it is a little slow. I'm pretty busy at the moment so I'm finding it hard to maintain interest. I've picked up a collection of short stories called Diving Belles by Lucy Wood to read in between when I'm too tired to focus on Fifth Business. I've read two of the stories and they are sensational. What are you reading now?

posted by Sharkell at 4:30 pm (EST) on Jan 15, 2013

Well, I finished The House of Mirth and I did enjoy it, although I got a little lost with some of the dialogue. Tonight I'm starting Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. I follow kevinfromcanada's blog and he is doing a Canadian challenge for 2013, and I'm going to join in where I can. This is his book for January. Have you read his blog? Have you read this book? How's Birdsong going?

posted by Sharkell at 5:19 am (EST) on Jan 13, 2013

No, it was me, I'd entered the wrong title on my currently reading list which is probably where you got it from! I see you gave Kindness of Strangers five stars. I'll have to add that to my wishlist.

posted by Sharkell at 10:54 pm (EST) on Jan 9, 2013

Yes, I got the wrong title! I've started it and it is okay, but not as good as Austen!!! Glad you are enjoying Birdsong. Faulks has also written a book called Charlotte Gray which is very good if you like his writing.

posted by Sharkell at 10:21 pm (EST) on Jan 9, 2013

No, I haven't read Kindness of Strangers. I look forward to seeing what you thought of it. I can't wait to hear if you like Birdsong as much as I did. I read it the second time last year and will read it again next year. I've just been given the DVD for Christmas and have watched the first half and it is awesome. Can't wait to watch the second half. I've just finished Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, which I enjoyed, but not quite as much as her latest book, State of Wonder, which is a favourite. Next on my list is an Edith Wharton book, have you read any by her?

posted by Sharkell at 10:23 pm (EST) on Jan 8, 2013

Oh, I've just scanned up and seen that you have put your top books on your profile. Some great books there but none to add to my reading list as I have already read them all! Probably just as well really as I'm trying to reduce my tbr pile.. Glad A Fine Balance made it on your list and very pleased to see an Austalian book top your list!

posted by Sharkell at 4:07 am (EST) on Jan 7, 2013

No, I haven't read Kindness of Strangers. Is it a Penman? I am about half way through Ann Patchett's Bel Canto which I am really enjoying. I see you have read and enjoyed A Monster Calls. I loved that too. Did you see my top ten of 2012 that I have put up on my profile? If you get some free time I'd love to know what your top reads of 2012 were. I have to say it's pretty hard to narrow them down!

posted by Sharkell at 4:04 am (EST) on Jan 7, 2013

Happy New Year. I liked Time and Chance, but not quite as much as When Christ and his Saints Slept. It will be interesting to see what the third book is like. Which Penman are you reading? I am currently reading Nevil Shute, an Australian author who wote one of our classics A Town Like Alice. It is called The Pied Piper and is about an older man trying to make his way through France to Englad when the Germans were invading France during WW2. Along the way he collects a troupe of children to take with him. I had heard that other Nevil Shutes were not worth reading but I'm really enjoying this one.

posted by Sharkell at 5:30 pm (EST) on Jan 4, 2013

Thanks for your Christmas wishes. I have also thoroughly enjoyed our discussions and I look forward to more of the same next year. The Sharon Penman I am reading is the sequel to When Christ and his Saints Slept and is shaping up to be just as good. Have you been able to read any Penman yet? Merry Christmas to you and your family and I look forward to more book talking soon. Sharon.

posted by Sharkell at 8:07 pm (EST) on Dec 24, 2012