Hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.Books completed last week:
13.BLACKLANDS***** by Linda Bauer is a psychological suspense that was so tense I had to finish it to get relief. A boy writes anonymously to a child killer in prison hoping the man will help him find the body of one of the local boys he's murdered. He's a very serious little boy and has deeply personal reasons for wanting to locate this murdered child. Eventually the killer figures out that he's communicating by letter with a twelve year old boy...talk about cat and mouse. Don't miss this one.
14.THE OUTCAST****+ by Sadie Jones is an excellent read. A young man, 19, gets out of prison and returns home to his English village and a demanding and unforgiving father. He tries to cope with all the negative attitudes and expectations around him but it's a difficult road. Very well written and highly recommended.
15.GOOD TO A FAULT**** by Marina Endicott is an award nominated novel that has a woman take in a homeless family after hitting their car and putting the mother in the hospital. Another wild ride ensues as these people are typically unpredictable, demanding and not always to be trusted. A very interesting story about motives for giving, guilt, and the limits of generosity. Well worth reading and highly recommended.
16.RAIN***** by W. Somerset Maugham is a short story (34 pages) that I always loved and had not read in 40 years. I was shocked by the ending back then. It was filmed at least twice with Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth in the starring role. Both films were excellent. I highly recommend this and any of Maugham's short stories.
Books I gave up on:
BEFORE I WAKE by Robert Wiersma by page 90 was going in a direction I did not like. A couple's daughter was believed to be healing people, while completely and irreversibly comatose no less. Somebody tell me this book is worth finishing and does not get stupid.
Book in hand...
THE SWAN THIEVES by Elizabeth Kostova is great so far, I love stories with psychiatrists and their patients in them. Lot's of art and book reference as the doctor's patient is a painter. Tried an hour of the audio and got a headache. It's seventeen hours long on audio, my nerves can't take that many hours of someone yakking at me. I gave it a try, audio is not for me-until I'm blind or something.
Up Next:
THE COMEDIANS by Graham Greene
THE PRACTICE OF PERFECTION by Mary Frances Coady
GOURMET RHAPSODY by Muriel Barbery
THE LOVE WE SHARE WITHOUT KNOWING by Christopher Barzak
THE APPLE by Penelope J. Holt
Books I Still Need to Write Reviews On:
Which books mentioned on my blog would you like me to review? Just ask.
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What are you reading?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Swan Thieves too! Elizabeth Kostova writes beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Blacklands. It kept my attention from page one! Enjoy
ReplyDeleteI feel like I absolutely have to read Blacklands!!!! Your reviews are perfect!!! Enjoy your week of reading!
ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Bloodroot by Amy Greene. It's mesmerizing to me, I hate to finish it, and it's one I wouldn't have necessarily picked up at the store.
You have some great titles! I think you have good taste...what did you think of Mrs. Dalloway? It made me so sad.
It's been a long time since I read Somerset Maugham's short stories but I remember I always enjoyed them. Blacklands sounds a good one.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading!
I should be getting a review copy of Swan Thieves audiobook soon and I can't wait. It's got several narrators, my favorite kind. Glad to see you are enjoying it but sorry the audio didn't work out for you.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the audio !! I listen to the audio books while I'm in the car driving. Gives me something to listen to other than annoying DJ's and commercials. Hope you have a great reading week.
ReplyDeleteYou are a busy reader. I keep seeing The Swan Thieves all over the place-maybe I will look into it. Everyone seems to be really enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy week...
*smiles*
I bought a copy of The Swan Thieves but haven't started it yet. I love listening to audio when I can't sit and read, when I'm doing housework, cooking, shopping, stuff like that. It relives the boredom. Have a great reading week!
ReplyDeleteTHE SWAN THIEVES is another one I am hoping to read. I enjoy audios when I am in the car.... its like being able to drive and read! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
I really want to read The Swan Thieves. Looks marvelous! Enjoy your books this week!
ReplyDeleteNice list of books!
ReplyDeleteHere's mine this week: http://ruthiesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_08.html
Hope you have a great reading week! :D
Backlands sounds wonderful. I have The Swan Thieves on my TBR pile. You had a wonderful week's worth of reading. Happy reading this week. My Monday: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/02/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-8.html
ReplyDeleteThese all sound good, but I'm thinking "Blacklands" would be my first choice. The story "Rain" sounds intriguing, too.
ReplyDeleteMy week:
http://laurel-rain-snow.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_08.html
I'm listening to the audio of The Swan Thieves and liking it although I think I'd like to have the book to read along with it. Sometimes I think I miss a lot listening to an audio. I seem to absorb words better.
ReplyDeleteSome of those sound really great, hope you have a great reading week.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED The Historian so I'm probably going to read The Swan Thieves as well. Haven't yet read anything by Maugham but I know I should one day. Which one would you recommend for starters?
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Pride and Prejudice now :)
I really want to read The Outcast and The Swan Thieves! They both look really good!
ReplyDeleteWow -- Blacklands sounds really intriguing!
ReplyDeleteThe swan theives is on my to read list too!
ReplyDeleteI've read a book before that sounded a bit like "The Outcast" and it thoroughly gripped my interest. Perhaps I should go and search for the book you read as well. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteInteresting list! Nice to know that you are reading Somerset Maugham's short story 'Rain'. He is one of my favourite writers and he was probably unconventional for his time. Have you read his short story 'The Fall of Edward Barnard' as well as his novels 'Of Human Bondage', 'The Razor's Edge' and 'The Moon and Six Pence'?
ReplyDeleteTotally want to read BLACKLANDS!
ReplyDelete