JULY READS

[rapa]

Fireworks, apple pie, "Oh my!"
....and what are you reading this July?

I finished FINDERS KEEPERS and now 3/4 finished MR. MERCEDES.
Don't know how Stephen King does it, but can he ever tell a story! I get totally engrossed with his characters.

[Mandy Muffin]

Downloaded my free Amazon Prime book for the month.  I am continuing the read the Pines Trilogy, now a major TV event, Wayward Pines.  Book Two is "Wayward" by Blake Crouch.  There are strange goings-on in this little town in Idaho, where the FBI is trying to figure out why people disappear when they travel there.

Here is the TV promo: http://www.fox.com/wayward-pines/

[Carci]

Finished What She Left Behind a few days ago...  what a depressing book... about mental hospitals in the early 1920's when anyone could be committed on a relative's whim, in this case a daughter who refused to marry the man dad had picked out for her... ice baths, electric shock, involuntary sterilization... not recommended.

Then I read A Man Called Ove and loved it...  I cried 1/2 way through and I cried at the end... and I laughed a lot in between... great book altho it starts out slow.

I just picked up The Nightingale today so it's too early to comment on it.

 

[rapa]

Carci, in the '50's we still treated with shock treatents and cold/wet sheet packs. ECT was effective for depression and the ice packs calming for the disturbed. Patients also spent months hospitalized as insurance didn't put a limit on them. Will put in a reserve for WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND.

So glad to hear that you loved OVE as much as I did. Unfortunately I didn't care for his succeeding book.

THE NIGHTINGALE was one of my favorite reads. Enjoy!

[Carci]

rapa, Ove reminded me of a sleeper movie starring Dustin Hoffman, HERO, from 1992.  It's tag line is "one selfless act of courage can really mess up your whole day".  

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104412/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_40

A cynical con man (Dustin) reluctantly saves a planefull of passengers after a crash and a reporter tries to find the 'Hero' in the aftermath.  One of my top 10 favorite movies of all time! 

[rapa]

Thanks, Carci! Have always liked Dustin Hoffman and will look for movie.

[Carolyn Tewell]

Had to post even though I have ZERO books to complain or be excited about. Want to get notifications of postings.

MANDY...I tried to watch the series of Wayword Pines and made it thru about 5 shows and then had to say...Bub-Bye. Danl is still a fan! Thinking it is a "Guy" type of program. Know the books were popular, too.

CARCI..."What She Left Behind" was featured in our National Library Publication "what everybody is talking about" section. Ya' know I TRY to read stuff with a bit of levity...doesn't have to be laugh out loud funny but needs some sort of uplift for me. So gotta pass on this one, I'm thinking.

RAPA/SLOPOK...I may check out Ove... To read while traveling on Audiobook. Let ya' know.

HERO....I will search DIRECT TV for this movie. Love Dustin Hoffman and a movie that is recognized by this Group is rare and worth some investment in time to find.

Checked out some Kate Atkinson books. One seems "far out" so I'll give you my report after a read.

I'm plodding through "A Woman of Substance" ...Barbara Taylor Bradford. Now, I must say this lady can write! I read something like this and realize just how hard published writers must work! Props to a few of you who have actually accomplished this effort!

I absolutely loved the book...WILD and checked out the movie today...Now, how to get it viewed? It has Drugs, Sex and nudity so have to avoid showing when Mother-in-law, age 94 walks thru the family room??? Lol

One book that I liked which is on the 101 Crime/Mystery list of past decade is THE WHITES by Harry Brandt. Now, the Hero in this, I want to hug him! The story is about a Cops life who works the night shift in Bronx. Lots of Law Enforcement dialog. Like saying about a criminal being put in "GEN-POP" jail (general population) and so much more than I ever saw on CSI....LOL

OKAY...time to handle kitchen clean up? EEEK...9:30PM.~Carolyn

[Eaglewoman]

When you watch the Wild movie, when she hitches a ride in the pick up, the woman driving the pick up is the real Cheryl.

[rapa]

Last night finished Jo Nesbo's latest stand-alone novel BLOOD ON SNOW,translated from the Norwegian. Good, fast read of 200 pages.

Taken from the cover "This is the story of Olav: an extremely talented "fixer" for one of Oslo's most powerful crime bosses. But Olav is also an unusually complicated fixer. He has a capacity for love that is as far-reaching as is his gift for murder." While his latest job puts him at the pinnacle of his trade, it may just be his biggest mistake. Read and enjoy!

[Jick]

I just finished Neal Stephenson's SEVENEVES.  Proving once again that the only thing better than a good book is a good long book.  It's just under 900 pages and I enjoyed every page.  If you are a Sci-Fi fan don't miss this book.  Something hit the moon and it broke into 7 parts which collide with each other and continue to hit each other and break into more and more pieces. Scientists realize that in two years all these pieces will start coming down on the Earth and scorch the planet and make it inhabitable for 5000 years.  The first part of the book is how they save mankind.  The second part takes place 5000 years later when the seven races that survived in space return to the New Earth and what they discover there. Neal Stephenson is becoming my favorite author. Check out Seveneves or any of his novels.

[Flowergram]

Not much time for reading these days - just finished Iles book- 24 hours - noted this was also a movie - with Kevin Bacon and Charlize Theron.  He sure can write - this is 4th book I have read and all are different but very good.  Finished -The Last Great Detective by Crais today.  This one I have been carrying to doctor, dentist and physical therapy  to read.  Also read on the Kindle - new writer - Dixie Burns - her first and even though not a cheerful book was well written.  Title - Spit of a Minute:An irreconcilable life.  Follows a family over several decades.  Lots more to read.  Thanks for sending your reads have more to add to my list.  There is always a diverse listing of books in this group - a lot to learn.

[Joanne]

If anyone reads in the Young Adult Genre,  may I recommend "All The Bright Places".  It traverses some of today's problems facing teens; bullying, mental problems (bi-polar), loss of family member.  It is not the happiest of books, but is very well written, and tugs at your heartstrings.  There is a lot of good writing showing up in this Young Adult genre.

The author of Bright Places is Jennifer Niven.

[Ioruach]

With the sale of my house of 33 years, moving myself into a senior apartment complex, a daughter and grand daughter into another apartment, and myself trying to become accustomed to living with a bunch of other old geezers, it has been a rather stressful time. But I have continued to read, at a somewhat slower pace, while settling in, but that is picking up, too. And, best of all, I am within a short walk from my library.

I did finish Plainsong, which I discovered several years after its publication, thanks to rapa. I’ll rate it as perhaps my favorite book of the year so far and one of my favorites of the past three or four years. The remarkable, amazing characters Haruf creates with his simple, yet complex, prose is remarkable; I will long remember the McPheron brothers, Harold and Raymond, two of the most lovable old farts I have found. If they could come to life, they would, I think, have much in common with Ove of A Man Called Ove,

Now it will be on to Eventide, which I understand is a sequel featuring the same and new characters a few years later.