This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1NanaCC
As much as I am having trouble believing it, we are nearing the end of the first quarter, so it is time to think about the books you've read during the past three months.
What were your favorite books during January through March? Did you have any five star reads?
Have you discovered any new authors that you want to share with the group?
Were there any books that you really disliked, or that you were unable to finish?
What were your favorite books during January through March? Did you have any five star reads?
Have you discovered any new authors that you want to share with the group?
Were there any books that you really disliked, or that you were unable to finish?
2Mr.Durick
From my my list so far I have particularly liked:
Heir to the Glimmering World
American Transcendentalism
The Patron Saint of Liars
I don't know whether I will finish What Hath God Wrought by the end of the month, but it is among the best of my reading in the quarter. There have been no clunkers although Dr. Faustus could be tough going.
Robert
Heir to the Glimmering World
American Transcendentalism
The Patron Saint of Liars
I don't know whether I will finish What Hath God Wrought by the end of the month, but it is among the best of my reading in the quarter. There have been no clunkers although Dr. Faustus could be tough going.
Robert
3rebeccanyc
I'm heading out of town tomorrow and won't be back until the end of the quarter, so I'll start this now and hope to have one or two books to add when I come back. These are not in any particular order, and I'm surprised to see there haven't been that many wonderful reads so far this year -- but those that were wonderful really were great.
Fiction
Showdown by Jorge Amado - A tale of fascinating characters fending for themselves in what could be called Brazil's wild west.
The Radiance of the King by Camara Laye -- A book that turns the tale of a white man visiting Africa on its head.
The Beast Within by Émile Zola -- One of Zola's best.
Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe -- A combination of compelling characters, clever plotting, and deep insight into the strengths and weaknesses of traditional Igbo culture, religion, and government, as well as a piercing look at how British colonialism devastated these traditions.
The Pendragon Legend by Antal Szerb -- Murder and mystery, the lure of old books, conflicts over legacies, the occult, the wilds of Wales, and engaging characters -- and a satire of all of the above.
Nonfiction
The Queen's Necklace by Antal Szerb -- A thoroughly delightful and readable history that mixes discussions of poetry, theater, gardens, music, modes of speaking, the role of the church, trends in jewelry, and much more into the story of the necklace.
New authors I've discovered: Jorge Amado, Camara Laye, Chinua Achebe, and Antal Szerb were all new to me, although their books had been languishing on my TBR shelves for years. I've bought more books by all of them now.
Disappointments:
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova
Autobiography of a Corpse by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky
Fiction
Showdown by Jorge Amado - A tale of fascinating characters fending for themselves in what could be called Brazil's wild west.
The Radiance of the King by Camara Laye -- A book that turns the tale of a white man visiting Africa on its head.
The Beast Within by Émile Zola -- One of Zola's best.
Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe -- A combination of compelling characters, clever plotting, and deep insight into the strengths and weaknesses of traditional Igbo culture, religion, and government, as well as a piercing look at how British colonialism devastated these traditions.
The Pendragon Legend by Antal Szerb -- Murder and mystery, the lure of old books, conflicts over legacies, the occult, the wilds of Wales, and engaging characters -- and a satire of all of the above.
Nonfiction
The Queen's Necklace by Antal Szerb -- A thoroughly delightful and readable history that mixes discussions of poetry, theater, gardens, music, modes of speaking, the role of the church, trends in jewelry, and much more into the story of the necklace.
New authors I've discovered: Jorge Amado, Camara Laye, Chinua Achebe, and Antal Szerb were all new to me, although their books had been languishing on my TBR shelves for years. I've bought more books by all of them now.
Disappointments:
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
Mastermind: How To Think Like Sherlock Holmes by Maria Konnikova
Autobiography of a Corpse by Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky
4fuzzi
My best reads of this quarter, a mixed bunch in type, not in quality:
Brothers of Earth by CJ Cherryh
Cuckoo's Egg by CJ Cherryh
SciFi by my favorite SciFi/Fantasy author. As usual, Ms. Cherryh's writing is fascinating, gripping, intelligent.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
The Promise by Chaim Potok
Fiction about Jewish sects in NYC during the 1940s and 1950s, both excellent reads.
Beloved Bride by William Potter
History in the form of letters written. I've never been a fan of "letter" books, but this one was wonderful.
And my only five star for the quarter:
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
I can't recommend this one highly enough.
Brothers of Earth by CJ Cherryh
Cuckoo's Egg by CJ Cherryh
SciFi by my favorite SciFi/Fantasy author. As usual, Ms. Cherryh's writing is fascinating, gripping, intelligent.
The Chosen by Chaim Potok
The Promise by Chaim Potok
Fiction about Jewish sects in NYC during the 1940s and 1950s, both excellent reads.
Beloved Bride by William Potter
History in the form of letters written. I've never been a fan of "letter" books, but this one was wonderful.
And my only five star for the quarter:
My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
I can't recommend this one highly enough.
5avidmom
I haven't really read all that much so far this year.
Favorites would be An Easy Burden by Andrew Young & Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man by Hank Bordowitz
Favorites would be An Easy Burden by Andrew Young & Billy Joel: The Life and Times of An Angry Young Man by Hank Bordowitz
6dchaikin
>4 fuzzi: - I also read My Name is Asher Lev this year and enjoyed it. I will be reading The Gift of Asher Lev in April.
Favorites this quarter:
1. Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas - I was tempted not to list this, since I actually read most of it last year, but it's far better than anything I've read this year, yet.
2. The Book of Job - was fascinating.
3. A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz - the affect accumulates
4. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
5. Stories from the Country of Lost Borders by Mary Hunter Austin - not a five star read, but a great find. These stories were originally published in 1903/1909
Juvenile
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Audio
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us (Audio CD) by Michael Moss, narrated by Scott Brick
One Summer: America, 1927 (Audio CD) by Bill Bryson, read by the author
I'm reading Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman and, based on the first half of the book, would add this.
Favorites this quarter:
1. Religion and the Decline of Magic by Keith Thomas - I was tempted not to list this, since I actually read most of it last year, but it's far better than anything I've read this year, yet.
2. The Book of Job - was fascinating.
3. A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz - the affect accumulates
4. My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
5. Stories from the Country of Lost Borders by Mary Hunter Austin - not a five star read, but a great find. These stories were originally published in 1903/1909
Juvenile
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Audio
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us (Audio CD) by Michael Moss, narrated by Scott Brick
One Summer: America, 1927 (Audio CD) by Bill Bryson, read by the author
I'm reading Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman and, based on the first half of the book, would add this.
7fuzzi
@dchaikin, let me know what you think. I borrowed The Gift of Asher Lev from the public library, but have not had the time to tackle it, so back it goes on Saturday. I've read mixed reviews about it, not that it would keep me from reading it, eventually. :)
8fannyprice
Favorites
I had a lot of five-star and four-star reads so far this year. Many of them were simple, collections of Mutts and Laugh-Out-Loud Cats cartoons. Excellent reads that may have a wider appeal were:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Bossypants by Tina Fey
You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon
Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times
New Discoveries
The Maisie Dobbs Mysteries series about a WWI nurse who solves mysteries. The mysteries are good but the real joy are the war memories and the portrait of England in the inter-war years.
Megan Abbott's modern teen noir books, such as Dare Me, at the recommendation of multiple CR members.
Clunkers
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives!: A World without World War I - I haven't yet written my review of this Early Reviewers' Book, but I loathed it. Loathed it. I only finished it so I could write an honest review of it.
Also, Joyce Carol Oates's Zombie, about a serial killer & inspired by Jeffrey Dahmer, just didn't work for me. Fortunately it was short.
I had a lot of five-star and four-star reads so far this year. Many of them were simple, collections of Mutts and Laugh-Out-Loud Cats cartoons. Excellent reads that may have a wider appeal were:
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Bossypants by Tina Fey
You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon
Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times
New Discoveries
The Maisie Dobbs Mysteries series about a WWI nurse who solves mysteries. The mysteries are good but the real joy are the war memories and the portrait of England in the inter-war years.
Megan Abbott's modern teen noir books, such as Dare Me, at the recommendation of multiple CR members.
Clunkers
Archduke Franz Ferdinand Lives!: A World without World War I - I haven't yet written my review of this Early Reviewers' Book, but I loathed it. Loathed it. I only finished it so I could write an honest review of it.
Also, Joyce Carol Oates's Zombie, about a serial killer & inspired by Jeffrey Dahmer, just didn't work for me. Fortunately it was short.
9Nickelini
This is tough--I've had an odd year of reading, so far. I'm basing this on what has stuck with me more than my thoughts at the time of completion.
Broken Harbour, Tana French - Interesting Irish mystery on audiobook
Wild Harbour, Ian Macpherson - written in 1936, this is the story of a couple escaping WWII in the Scottish Highlands. Different and memorable, even though I didn't love it.
Wave, Sonali Deraniyagala - memoir of one woman's survival of the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004
Beauty: a Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Robin McKinley - excellent fairy tale retelling
The Orenda, Joseph Boyden - I read this the week it won CanadaReads, but didn't like it due to the extreme violence. However, a month after reading the book, my memories are moving to the positive side and I'm remembering all the good things about the book and forgetting the crazy violence.
Broken Harbour, Tana French - Interesting Irish mystery on audiobook
Wild Harbour, Ian Macpherson - written in 1936, this is the story of a couple escaping WWII in the Scottish Highlands. Different and memorable, even though I didn't love it.
Wave, Sonali Deraniyagala - memoir of one woman's survival of the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004
Beauty: a Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Robin McKinley - excellent fairy tale retelling
The Orenda, Joseph Boyden - I read this the week it won CanadaReads, but didn't like it due to the extreme violence. However, a month after reading the book, my memories are moving to the positive side and I'm remembering all the good things about the book and forgetting the crazy violence.
10bragan
Well, I think I've read all the books I'm going to read in March, and if my some miracle I finish the one I'm currently reading (and have been for what seems like forever), it's not going to take one of the top slots. So I guess I can do this now. Let's see, based on the ratings I gave them, my best books of the quarter were:
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology edited by Christopher Golden
Locke & Key Volume 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriquez
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
Well, that's an interesting collection of books, I guess.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
The New Dead: A Zombie Anthology edited by Christopher Golden
Locke & Key Volume 6: Alpha & Omega by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriquez
Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
Well, that's an interesting collection of books, I guess.
11StevenTX
I didn't read as much as I had hoped to this quarter, but I did have some clear favorites:
Non-Fiction
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes -- Perhaps more detail than some would like, but as I've always had a strong interest in both science and military history this was perfect for me. As much as atomic energy and nuclear weapons have shaped the world we live in, it is important to understand how they work and what forces brought them into being. Rhodes gives a very balanced perspective and important historical context on the ethical issues involved with the first use of nuclear weapons.
The Histories of Herodotus (re-read) -- The "father of history" deserves his title. This is a brilliant, comprehensive, and entertaining history of the founding of the Persian Empire and its conflict with the Greek city-states.
Fiction
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (original 1818 version) by Mary Shelley -- There are many facets to this work that are easily overlooked because it's such a gripping adventure story. Most obviously it is a dialogue between a fallible creator and his flawed creation. It is also a rumination on scientific ethics and on the idea of the "noble savage."
Night and Day by Virginia Woolf -- Not quite in the same class as the above three books but a well-written and often surprising story that explores the conflict between the rational and romantic facets of life.
Non-Fiction
The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes -- Perhaps more detail than some would like, but as I've always had a strong interest in both science and military history this was perfect for me. As much as atomic energy and nuclear weapons have shaped the world we live in, it is important to understand how they work and what forces brought them into being. Rhodes gives a very balanced perspective and important historical context on the ethical issues involved with the first use of nuclear weapons.
The Histories of Herodotus (re-read) -- The "father of history" deserves his title. This is a brilliant, comprehensive, and entertaining history of the founding of the Persian Empire and its conflict with the Greek city-states.
Fiction
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (original 1818 version) by Mary Shelley -- There are many facets to this work that are easily overlooked because it's such a gripping adventure story. Most obviously it is a dialogue between a fallible creator and his flawed creation. It is also a rumination on scientific ethics and on the idea of the "noble savage."
Night and Day by Virginia Woolf -- Not quite in the same class as the above three books but a well-written and often surprising story that explores the conflict between the rational and romantic facets of life.
12NanaCC
I was hoping to finish the book I'm currently reading before doing my favorites as I'm sure it would be at the top of the list, but that isn't going to happen.
I've been happy with my choices so far this year, but these are my favorites:
Favorite Fiction
The Warden by Anthony Trollope.... First book in Barsetshire Chronicles. I can't wait to get to the next one.
One of Ours by Willa Cather.... The most un-warlike book about war that I've ever read. Beautiful writing about people and place.
Mr. Britling Sees It Through by H. G. Wells.... I really enjoyed this story about the beginning of WWI
Favorite Fun Read
Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson.... The second book in the Miss Buncle trilogy. I really enjoyed it.
Favorite Non-Fiction
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink.... This book evokes strong emotions - shock, anger, sadness
Favorite Audiobook
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, Narrated by John Lee .... If this was fiction, you would say "no way".
I've been happy with my choices so far this year, but these are my favorites:
Favorite Fiction
The Warden by Anthony Trollope.... First book in Barsetshire Chronicles. I can't wait to get to the next one.
One of Ours by Willa Cather.... The most un-warlike book about war that I've ever read. Beautiful writing about people and place.
Mr. Britling Sees It Through by H. G. Wells.... I really enjoyed this story about the beginning of WWI
Favorite Fun Read
Miss Buncle Married by D.E. Stevenson.... The second book in the Miss Buncle trilogy. I really enjoyed it.
Favorite Non-Fiction
Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink.... This book evokes strong emotions - shock, anger, sadness
Favorite Audiobook
Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre, Narrated by John Lee .... If this was fiction, you would say "no way".
