A weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and this week by Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. Write up your post-feel free to use the button and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Completed recently...
The Upright Piano Player 2010 by David Abbott Author's first novel after retiring.
Involves the death of a child, highly recommended.
Enjoyed as much as Ian McEwan's The Child in Time****+
What Happened to My Sister by Elizabeth Flock 2012
Sequel to Emma & Me (2005), which was astoundingly good*****
Much of that happened in Emma & Me was altered for this second book-she should have left well enough alone. Emotional sop for the reader only reason for this sequel.
Don't miss reading Me & Emma, whether or not you read this one.
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan 2012 UK
1970s espionage, much better than expected given the subject, recommended.
My 11th by this author, enjoyed all immensely except Solar***
Favourite: Saturday****
The Painted Bridge***** by Wendy Wallace 2012 UK
Award winning journalist's first novel after 2 books of nonfiction, and short stories
1850s women's "insane asylum" story
A pox on all 19th century doctors and husbands.
Couldn't read it fast enough!
Currently reading...
The Mirrored World by Debra Dean 2012
Also recommend highly: The Madonnas of Leningrad****+ by Debra Dean
Hostage by Elie Wiesel 2012
for Jewish Book Month, I enjoy all of his books
Altered Light by John Banville 2012
Loved The Sea and The Book of Evidence but this one is not my cuppa.
May not finish...
The Coward's Tale by Vanessa Gebbie
After 52 pages it's not ringing any bells for me...
Have you read it? Does it redeem itself eventually?
In the queue...
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kashgar by Suzanne Joinson
Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville
The Forrests by Emily Perkins
Winter Journal by Paul Auster
and new books by Michael Chabon, Barbara Kingsolver, Patrick Somerville, Edeet Ravel, Rose Tremain, Matthew Dicks, Joanne Harris, Peter Hoeg, Tan Twan Eng et al.
Leave thoughts or links to any you've read or reviewed, I'd love to read them.
Most of the reviews I've read of What Happened to My Sister have said it doesn't live up to Emma and Me. I just bought The Madonnas of Leningrad - hopefully I can read it soon.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Painted Bridge and The Lady Cyclist, struggled with The Coward's tale, and I'm waiting for The Forrests to turn up at the library. There are few copies and many reservations!
ReplyDeleteAs you rated The Painted Bridge I hope you don't mind me recommending Sarah May's Inconvenient People, which is non fiction giving a wonderful account of the background to such stories.
Cathy: I really thought I'd be the only wet blanket about What Happened to My Sister. As you know, I never read reviews until after I've read the books and I thought everyone would love this one-only because it's emotionally satisfying-sort of, but too too much so. Glad to hear some thought like I did. I can enjoy reading the reviews now. You'll love The Madonnas I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteFleur: Glad to know you liked The Lady Cyclist that much, and many reservations usually means a good book so here's hoping for The Forrests. I've read some non fiction about women and asylums, they make me so mad that I've been sticking to fiction. Silly I know but thanks, always glad to get a good recommendation.
I hated the sequel Emma & Me too!! I thought she should have never written it or maybe I shouldn't have read it..burned my eyes!! I'm making a note of the ones you loved and adding them to my list!!
ReplyDeleteI just saw Painted Bridge at the library and the inside jacket description sounded good.
ReplyDeleteupright piano player is wonderfully cleverly written book I loved it ,all the best stu
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