Member: vhoeschler

I read your review of World Without End and you felt the same way I did about the book. So, I came to your site to see what else I could learn from you. If you could recommend only 1 book to me, what would it be?

posted by jluebowman at 4:15 pm (EST) on Apr 17, 2009

Thanks for your comment about my reviews and for adding me as one of your favorites! You have quite an impressive library, and right away I spot a title I haven't heard of, but that captures my attention: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, sounds like one to explore!

posted by jopearson56 at 8:28 am (EST) on Feb 19, 2009

Hello,
Please excuse my tardiness in replying, I only discovered your post today...I am still finding my way around this site and what it offers. I have read all the Outlander books. I discovered them last year and read them pretty much one after the other. Like you I was a little worried about the storyline being as you said a little outlandish, but like so many other fans of the series I quickly became an obsessive fan. I am always a little shy to recommend books as everyones tastes are different, but if you like to use books to escape for a while then I would recommend the series.
Maggiee

posted by maggiee at 12:51 am (EST) on Dec 28, 2008

I loved your review of Twilight...I could not have put it any better. My 13 year old daughter had been badgering me to read it all summer.Much to my amusement and suprise I could not put the book down.

posted by maggiee at 11:35 pm (EST) on Dec 15, 2008

HI,

So sorry i have not replied sooner, i have not logged on here for such a long time! Have you read How the Dead Live yet? If you have not read any other Will Self books before, i would not recommend reading this first. It references 'The Quantity Theory of Insanity' in the book, which is also the name of another of his novels - i'd read that first.

Happy reading!!

posted by Weeze at 4:08 pm (EST) on Dec 11, 2008

Ahoy me hearty! As a member of the Pirate Brotherhood me be inviting ye to sail the Seven Seas with William Dampier ona Buccaneering Adventure. There be treasure galore and fine spoils to be had. We sail with the tide on 3rd November, so be sure to be aboard by then.

http://www.librarything.com/groups/apira...

- Yer First Mate, The Piratical Tortoise

posted by TheTortoise at 3:43 am (EST) on Oct 19, 2008

Hi, vhoeschler!
I just finished The Thirteenth Tale today. I loved the book! My other October reads include Dante's Inferno, Faust, Beloved (a different sort of ghost story), The Woman in White, Dracula, and Frankenstein. I also have the ghost stories of M.R. James and a collection of Daphne du Maurier short stories. However, I have joined a number of reading groups, so I don't think that I will get to read them all. I think I will read Inferno next. This is a reread for me, but I haven't read it in over 25 years. Thanks again for the recommendation. :)
--BJ
By the way, what did you find different opinions of about the ending? Was it when she saw her twin?

posted by billiejean at 1:33 am (EST) on Oct 9, 2008

Hey there, I came into contact with you indirectly through your "Catcher In The Rye" review.

Would love to discuss your low rating of that book some time soon. Also wanted to know if you have ever read "Franny and Zooey", probably Salinger's best piece of work. Also, nice picture.

Talk to you soon,

M1001.

posted by media1001 at 1:46 am (EST) on Aug 25, 2008

Hello vhoeschler,

It is so nice of you to leave me a message.

I am sorry I haven't replied earlier, only just spotted it!

My first wife was from South Africa.I emigrated there in the eighties and we lived in Durban for five years. I also stayed in Jo'Burg for a month and Cape Town for three months. Loved Cape Town. We came back to the UK in the early Nineties. Unfortunately, after nearly 35 years of marriage my wife died of a lung disease. I have now been married to my second wife, who is Russian, for nearly five years.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I have read the first part of Vanishing Acts. Pretty good so far. Being English I don't understand all her American cultural references but I am into the story. Its about a man who had kidnapped his own daughter when she was four. I wont tell you anymore than that because I am sure you will want to read it for yourself. I had never even heard of Jodi Picoult until I read your review , but I see from the back of the book that My Daughters Keeper was Richard and Judy's Best Read of 2005. That is why it is always out at the library! Do you know of Richard & Judy? They have a TV show in the UK, and are very popular. Their Book Club is extremely influential in pushing books to the top of the UK best seller lists.

posted by TheTortoise at 3:28 pm (EST) on Aug 9, 2008

Me again . . . I just noticed the picture on your page--fabulous!!

posted by Nickelini at 1:51 am (EST) on Aug 6, 2008

Hi! In answer to your question, I thought Shadow of the Wind had a decent start, but it quickly lost me, and by page 100 I was ready for the book to end. I would have thought the book was fine if it was waaaaaaay shorter. I read it for my book club, and I was the only one who felt this way--everyone else thought it was great.

posted by Nickelini at 1:50 am (EST) on Aug 6, 2008

Hi, vhoeschler!
Thank you for your comments and especially the recommendation for the Daphne book! What a coincidence that today I received three Daphne du Maurier books in the mail! I am saving The Thirteenth Tale for October. I am planning a sort of theme read with lots of fun books! This has been a year of getting back into the reading habit for me, and I am constantly amazed at how many books are out there. My kids still read much faster than I do, but I am really enjoying myself, and my speed is improving somewhat. Anyway, I really enjoy reading your reviews and getting your feedback. Have a great day!
--BJ

posted by billiejean at 11:44 pm (EST) on Aug 4, 2008

Hi, Thanks for the post. The Elm Creek Quilters series are novels about a group of women who teach quilting at a rural Pennsylvania lodge. I'm a quilter, so I enjoy the books. I don't know if someone who doesn't quilt would like them.

posted by mpmills at 9:54 am (EST) on Aug 1, 2008

Thanks so much for the suggestion for my October reading plans. I cannot wait to find the book you suggested. I am really looking forward to this as I have a few other books together already -- The Woman in White, The Collected Ghost Stories of M. R. James as well as Dracula and Frankenstein.
--BJ

posted by billiejean at 1:44 am (EST) on Jul 25, 2008

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. I rarely read non-fiction but the Catherine The Great book sounds interesting.

If you haven't already finished it I bet you loved Good in Bed. If you did, the sequel (13 years later) is called Certain Girls. It's one of my favorites for 2008. I love Jennifer Weiner. I think she's a brilliant writer.

posted by JulieC0802 at 1:23 pm (EST) on Jul 15, 2008

I noticed you have Pillars of the Earth as a favorite, have you read World Without End yet? I enjoyed that much better than Pillars although I listened to it on audio which may have been the difference.

I also noticed you have Bel Canto on your Bad Books tag, what didn't you like about it? I just got a copy of it and have not read it yet so I'm curious.

posted by Rarcar1 at 9:14 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2008

Hi, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. 4th of July festivities all weekend. Anyway, I won Forgery of Venus and just received it not that long ago. It's on my pile to read and I hope to get to it soon.

Abundance was the book on Marie Antoinette and it is fiction. It was pretty good, dry in some spots and really fabricated in others but enjoyable for fiction. Unfortunately, I have not read any nonfiction on her life but would be interested if you find anything that is worth reading.

I did read Mary, Mrs. A. Lincoln which was very good. Again, it was fiction but very accurate. I followed that up with Battle Cry of Freedom. I was obviously on a Civil War kick. I started Battle Cry of Freedom and did not finish it. It's not a book to read in one sitting!

I'm off to check out your tag of "Bad Books", I'm curious!

I go through phases with my reading. Right now I am reading a lot of fiction. Some historical and some contemporary. I was also on a Tudors kick a few months back.

posted by Rarcar1 at 9:10 pm (EST) on Jul 7, 2008

I saw your note on my challenge postings and I definitely think you will love The House at Riverton. It's one of my favorites that I've read all year.
Here's the link to that review.

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/200...

Here is my friend's review also:

http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/200...

posted by JulieC0802 at 8:57 am (EST) on Jul 3, 2008

Hello! Thanks for your post. I hope you enjoy Ordinary Wolves, too. I feel like it's an important book, as well as a good book. I actually did read The Shadow of the Wind a couple years ago -- right before a choir I work with went to Barcelona (I didn't go on that tour, but loved the idea they were visiting the places I just visited in the book!) As for TBR books sitting on the shelves...I'm just glad my books can't talk, because I'm sure they would complain of neglect (I know I will get to them at some point.)

I enjoyed looking through your library -- we do have similar tastes. The previous post mentions 84, Charing Cross Road. I hope you will be reading that soon because it is one of my very favorite books. The movie is wonderful, too.

Happy reading!

Anne

posted by AMQS at 11:55 pm (EST) on Jul 2, 2008

Thanks for the friend request. I look forward to looking through your library.

posted by Rarcar1 at 9:24 pm (EST) on Jun 28, 2008

vhoeschler--

Welcome to Librarything. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I really enjoy the suggestions and searching capabilities. I read a lovely book last night--84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. It is a short collection of letters from 1949-1969 between a young, witty, New York writer (Helene) and a British man that works in an antiquarian bookstore (Frank). The letters reflect their mutual love of books and chronicles their lovely friendship in the postwar years. Helene is a real funny spark plug and Frank is a kind, slightly reserved fellow who nevertheless enjoys Helene's wit.

All the best,
ProdigalReader

posted by ProdigalReader at 9:25 am (EST) on Jun 27, 2008