APRIL READS

[rapa]

A message from Ioruach to all members of Bookoholics on TBD!

“April is the cruellest month, breeding,
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dead tubers.”

For me these words are here every every April. I don’t often read T. S. Eliot’s poetry anymore. Certainly not as often as I once did. And that is unfortunate. I used to love reading The Waste Land from time to time, always in awe of the complexity and mystery of it.

I certainly don’t “understand” it. But I long ago abandoned that word when discussing poetry anyway. What we are talking about to my mind is the music of language.

So I thought, what better way to introduce “April Reads” than with one of the great works of poetry of the modern age. And for anyone wondering, yes, I did read the entire poem again. And it made me feel good.

And finally, for you believers in luck, I will of course say , Rabbit, Rabbit. Rabbit. A happy April to one and all.

[Carolyn Tewell]

Thanks for starting is off, RAPA!

Gloomy, cold and generally crummy looking outside. I did dash to Library to pick up a couple books on hold. Spent about 40 minutes earlier this morning on the GOODREADS website trying to get a grip on the new releases. Next going over to B&N's site for their "picks."

SAY NOTHING by Brad Parks looks interesting? Can't remember if I have ever read his stuff before.
CELINE by Peter Heller...I really liked "The Dog Stars"
BEEKEEPER's APPRENTICE by Laurie R. King ...not sure if I have read any of her stuff before, either.

I blew through Sue Grafton's S IS FOR SILENCE...sort of fun.

I'm about 3/4 done with BEFORE THE FALL. Still liking it...hope it ends well. Hate a bad ending!

Save my seat!~Carolyn

[rapa]

Carolyn. Loruach actually started the April Reads. I only posted it.

I''ll finish LILAC GIRL'S tonight. If you like reading about WWII and the atrocities in POW camps, this book will book will make it real for you. Great character development!

Thanks to Ursula's recommendation have started reading HOMEGOING, a story covering three centuries of families in Ghana. It's a culture that would have been a challenge for me, for sure! As a woman, doubt I'd have lasted a day!!!!

Picking up reserve books Monday. They will help to fill rainy April days!

I did remember to "RABBIT" today!!!!!!!

[Carolyn Tewell]

RAPA...well, guess I need to pay closer attention...so thanks to LORUACH for the poetic component!

Just had to jump in with a comment on BEFORE THE FALL....Author Noah Hawley...so knew I had seen the name before? YA THINK? He writes episodes of BONES and one of my favorite TV SHOWS...FARGO!!! Oh...he has won Emmy, Golden Globe, Critics Choice and Peabody awards!!!

I've been watching too much of Politics on Fox?

Now, gotta track down other books of his!

[grammyk]

I just started "Exit West",by Mohsin Hamid. Good reviews, good so far...

[Lip Service]

Thanks Loruach for the great poem

So far April is dry so mercifully has been the last week of March, we've had more than our share of rain this year. The pink jasmin is blooming and its aroma is filling the air. The camellias, azaleas and tulip trees are already losing their colorful flowers, this season seems to be on steroids 

[rapa]

Many thanks to Ursula for recommending HOMEGOING by Yaa Gyasi! This is one book I may buy as would enjoy reading it again and share. Of course, having a grandson living now in the Ghana bush made it more special. If you read this book, I recommend placing a bookmark marking the pedigree chart in the front. The story covers three centuries of the family and the chart is immensely helpful. Great read!!!

Yesterday I picked up at library two books I've been wanting to read.
THE CHILBURY LADIES' CHOIR by Jennifer Ryan and Johathan Kellerman's HEARTBREAK HOTEL

Looking forward to some good reading this week-end! Have any of you read any of these?

[Ursula]

So glad you enjoyed Homegoing!  I found it hard to put down as the story had so much depth to it, even though it was in some senses, a collection of short stories.  I finished it on Monday (in case any of you saw my incomplete post, which I have removed) and was really sad to see it end.

However, I seem to be on a roll of choosing good reads.  I am almost finished reading Isabel Allende's latest, The Japanese Lover, another engrossing read that travels from WWII to current times.  Lovely, lovely book!!  I cannot believe I have never read this author before, but intend to fix that shortly.

However, my next book is Lisa See's The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane.  The reviews are fabulous and have set the bar high, but then I always enjoy her books.

[rapa]

I finished THE TEA GIRL OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE last week. You are in for a treat! Excellent read as are all of Lisa See's books. Ursula, you were fortunate to have met her!

[Ioruach]

By the way, In March Reads a book I so highly recommended, The Heavens May Fall by Allen Eskens, won the Genre fiction prize for the Minnesota Book Awards a few days ago.  I think it was well deserved.

[rapa]

Unfortunately my library doesn't stock that book but I ordered his previous book. Have a sneaking hunch that I read it a couple years ago. We'll see!!!!

[Ioruach]

I recently finished Night School by Lee Child. I thought it was Child's best effort in some time. Very good.

Also, has anyone here read The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins? It was on the N.Y. Times Best Seller list for a few weeks. I am nearly finished and wondering what anyone who has read it thought about the characters Hawkins created for the novel. 

[rapa]

Unlke you, Loruach, I wasn't thrilled with NIGHT SCHOOL. I prefer my Reacher well seasoned!!!!

Yes, read GIRL ON THE TRAIN. I did like the ending although some didn't.

Picked up C. J. Box's VICIOUS CIRCLE today. Will start it tomorrow. Am a Joe Pickett fan!