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Larry wrote: "Helen wrote: "... I looked at one, Munro Leaf's The Story of Ferdinand, that I can remember with great fondness from decades back. I also loved the 1938 Disney cartoon of this bull that loved flowe..."

I just now sent this book to my great-granddaughter for her 2nd birthday. She'll be ready for it soon.

Larry wrote: I think that part of its greatness is that it can be read just as a sweet story about a bull who would rather smell flowers OR as an allegorical tale about loving peace (and not choosing to fight) as Spain descended into the Spanish Civil War."

I agree, Larry!

Listened to the audio book of There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Her Country's Children by Melissa Fay Greene (Book on CD narrated by Julie Fain Lawrence) � 4****
I almost gave up on this because it is slow to get started. Greene, a journalist, spends seemingly countless pages giving the reader a history lesson on Ethiopia and the development of HIV/AIDS. What was really compelling about the book was the story of Haregewoin Teferra, a middle-class Ethiopian woman consumed by grief, who � one child at a time � begins to care for and find permanent homes for some of the millions of AIDS orphans in Ethiopia. At times frustrating, at times heartwarming.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Bernadette wrote: "I’ve just started to read Claire Tomalin’s biography of Charles Dickens. It reminds me very much of my maternal grandfather who was a great fan of Charles Dickens. Even though he died before I was ..."

I really liked her biographies of Jane Austen and Samuel Pepys. I think I'll add the Dickens to my list!

Kat wrote: "Becky wrote: "Yesterday, I finished my first Austen - Northanger Abbey. So romantic!"

I love Austen. Northanger Abbey is fun because it lampoons the Gothic romances of Austen's day. It's ironic th..."

Northanger Abbey is so much fun! And this is a great account of what it does.

Sayantani wrote: " Currently I am reading this book. The first chapter is quiet happy one. Have anyone read this book? How is it?"

I loved this book. I also read Still Alice and loved it, too. I like these books because they deal with a health issue that anyone can get. To read these books and find out how the person struggles to cope with everyday life. I liked how the author wrote about these issues.
If you liked these books, may I suggest "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor. It is a true story about a brain scientist who suffers a stroke.

I loved Ferdinand when I was a child. :)


I finished Mary, Queen of France, meh, although the second half moved far better than the first part. I just found it to be too simplified, and frankly, a bit on the boring side. Tudors boring?! Oh well.

Also finished Dust Angel, by Jutta Profijt. Translated from the German, it's by the same author that wrote the Morgue Drawer series. Irreverent, downright funny with a few surprising twists. In the latter series, who thought coroners could be so amusing?

Am now about halfway through Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. Not overwhelmed.

Cateline wrote: "I loved Ferdinand when I was a child. :)


I finished Mary, Queen of France, meh, although the second half moved far better than the first part. I just found it to be too simplified, and frankly, a..."

Couldn't read Mr Penumbra. Just didn't appeal to me, so I moved on. I'm curious about the discussion.

I've read several: Skylark Farm; The Siege Rome: The Eagle of the Twelfth An Iliad and am now reading The Palace of Illusions and making my way very slowly through The Death of Virgil. The last is a very intense book.

Still really enjoying Edith Pearlman's Binocular Vision.

I'm not reading John McPhee's new book yet ... but I am reading a review of it that makes me want to read it soon. And like the reviewer in the review that I link to here, I enjoyed an excerpt of it in a recent New Yorker.

Each day, I get deeper into James S.A. Corey's Abaddon's Gate and each day my since of dread grows. Corey (and that is a pseudonym for two co-authors, BTW) is great at building a future world and at building suspense. One of the things they do is to create a future world (or in this case a solar system) with believable economics ... and that is not easy to do. And then to populate it with interesting characters .. and that is even harder.

Larry wrote: "I'm not reading John McPhee's new book yet ... but I am reading a review of it that makes me want to read it soon. And like the reviewer in the review that I link to here, I enjoyed an excerpt of i..."

I'll have to check that out. I'm a big McPhee fan.

Try reading Frederick Forsyth Avenger. He's been around a long long time and, hot better with age. Rod Level, M.D.

Mary Ellen wrote: "Helen wrote: "Mary Ellen wrote: "I finished reading The Spy Who Came In from the Cold a couple of days ago. It was the 2nd book I've read by John le Carré, the first being A Most Wanted Man.

I ..."

Rod wrote: "Try reading Frederick Forsyth Avenger. He's been around a long long time and, hot better with age. Rod Level, M.D."

His The Day of the Jackal was certainly superior. I noticed the other day that he had a new book out, and wondered.
Thanks. :)

I'm very deep into Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family with a GR group and enjoying the experience of this 19th century German family. Also reading An Instance of the Fingerpost which I think the rest of the world read many years ago. Love the 17thc, details.

Sue wrote: " Also reading An Instance of the Fingerpost which I think the world read many years ago. Love the 17thc, details...."

I read Instance a few years ago, can't remember details by now, but thought it was a little drawn out. But as I recall, what annoyed me was the over-detailing...but that is because I was familiar with that period already, and I wanted to get to the story. :)

Cateline wrote: "Rod wrote: "Try reading Frederick Forsyth Avenger. He's been around a long long time and, hot better with age."

I do think that Forsyth has maintained his quality through the years. I have read about a third of his novels--spaced throughout the history of his publications--and have always enjoyed them.

I finished The Paris Wife quickly and will wait for discussion to say more (except that it was quite odd to read this book directly following Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, so I am trying to take it on its own merits, and I think will read A Moveable Feast prior to the discussion as a companion piece.

Picked up another Coben book, and to pick one up is to devour it quickly within a couple of days, glad to have learned of him here, and will likely read all of his before the summer's out, as they're perfect summer reads.

Lyn wrote: "Picked up another Coben book, and to pick one up is to devour it quickly within a couple of days, glad to have learned of him here, and will likely read all of his before the summer's out, as they're perfect summer reads. ..."

Lyn, if you haven't read it yet, try Tell No One and after that I suggest seeing the 2006 French movie "Ne le dis à personne" based on the book. Wonderful suspense film ... and a good summer flick.

Not too many authors have been able to do what he's done. I'm surprised how good Avenger is.


Larry wrote: "Cateline wrote: "Rod wrote: "Try reading Frederick Forsyth Avenger. He's been around a long long time and, hot better with age."

I do think that Forsyth has maintained his quality through the yea..."

Rod, thanks for the suggestion. I haven't read any by Forsyth.

I just picked up Tinker, Tailor at the library...along with several other books. We'll see what gets read! The Painted Veil is among them, and will probably be the next up, as I want to take part in the discussion.

I'm re-reading The Painted Veil now for the discussion, having forgotten most of the details, but recalling that I liked it. Well, I'm liking it a whole lot now!

I found Tinker boring. Surprisingly. The Odessa File by Forsythe was my favorite. Great movie too with a very young Jon Voight.

Mary Ellen wrote: "Rod, thanks for the suggestion. I haven't read any by Forsyth.

I just picked up Tinker, Tailor at the library...along with several other books. We'll see what gets read! The Painted Veil is a..."

Anyone have some good book recommendations? :) I'm very open minded!

Pia -- I liked Sharp Objects best of Flynn's books, so why not try that one?

Funny you say that, I just added that one to my reading list last night. Thank you I'm looking forward to that book !

I'm reading Harlan Coben's Six Years, I was reminded of it up thread. :)
Coben is always interesting.

I was in the hospital and just finished Little Dorrit on audiobook, People of the Book for my book club and am reading Victoria Line, Central Line by Maeve Binchy. The collection of short stories was good for my drowsiness.

I love, love, love yoga and I'm not one to read murder mysteries; however, I came across a murder mystery titled Corpse Pose by Diana Killian that has a yoga centered theme and I decided to buy it. I am three chapters into it and I am really enjoying it. It is the first of a series with the same theme. If the entirety of it turns out to be as enjoyable as the first three chapters I will be reading the whole series.

Because everybody needs a little "cotton candy" in their diet occasionally ....

Finished Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz � 3*** (ABRIDGED Audio read by Ari Graynor)
More frantic antics from Izzy Spellman and her family, who run a private detective agency. This time she is obsessed with her new next door neighbor. The audio I picked up from the library was abridged, though there was no indication of that on the cover, or in the introduction. So I would listen while doing chores, then spend that night skim reading the text version to pick up what had been left out. Actually the abridged audio is pretty good and I don’t think the listener misses much.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Book Concierge wrote: "Because everybody needs a little "cotton candy" in their diet occasionally ....

Finished Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz � 3*** (ABRIDGED Audio read by Ari Graynor)
More frantic antics from I..."

I love good mind candy--thank you for the suggestion!

Book Concierge wrote: "Because everybody needs a little "cotton candy" in their diet occasionally ....

Finished Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz � 3*** (ABRIDGED Audio read by Ari Graynor)
More frantic antics from I..."

I dislike Ari Graynor's narration, and unfortunately there is one in the series where Audible only has her performance.

Finished reading Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang (a/k/a Ailing Zhang) � 4****
Chang is one of the most well-known and celebrated authors in modern China. Born in 1920 to an aristocratic family in Shanghai she studied literature at the Univ of Hong Kong, and immigrated to the United States in 1952. This is a collection of some of her better-known short stories, all dealing with love � filial, enduring, passionate, unrequited � and longing.
Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I'm halfway through Speaking from Among the Bones, the latest Flavia de Luce mystery. I know some have said no 11-12 year old girl could be as adult as this one sounds, but by gum, I believe her. :)
Each installment is better and more layered than the last, enlarging on the lives of the family and her village.

I just like the kid. :)

Cateline wrote: "I'm halfway through Speaking from Among the Bones, the latest Flavia de Luce mystery. I know some have said no 11-12 year old girl could be as adult as this one sounds, but by gum, I believe her. ..."


Me, too, although I'm ridiculously behind in the series. Besides, I'm a total sucker for small English villages. :-)

Sara wrote: "Me, too, although I'm ridiculously behind in the series. Besides, I'm a total sucker for small English villages. :-)..."

I just pre-ordered the next one coming out in January, I believe. I've had this one for ages, figured I'd better get on my horse and ride. heh

Speaking of small villages (though not English), I just finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. This is one of the books in a series featuring a French-Canadian policeman, Armand Gamache, his wife, colleagues, etc. This particular book is largely set at an inn near the village (Three Pines) by which the series is known.

I enjoyed the central character and kept turning the pages, but I thought she did not do a good job of melding characters and plot. By that I mean that she has a considerable cast of characters (the staff of the inn, Gamache's wife and two other officers and the utterly disagreeable family, one of whose members gets bumped off mid-book.) and she takes care to give us some "meat" about most of them. But then she has them do things that just don't make sense. (I thought the solution to the mystery was ridiculous, among other things.) So it was a disappointment. I know some CRs enjoy her very much; is this book typical of the series?

From there, I've moved on to The Painted Veil and, after the first few pages, I was hooked and thought, "Ah, here I am encountering a master!" I'd seen and liked the movie, and was afraid it would take away from the book, but so far it has not spoiled the reading experience. I look forward to our discussion.

Mary Ellen wrote: "Speaking of small villages (though not English), I just finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. This is one of the books in a series featuring a French-Canadian policeman, Armand Gamache, ..."

I've read and enjoyed Penny's series of Inspector Gamache. The last one left me a little cold, unfortunately. There are certain aspects that I don't want to mention as there'd be spoilers...but those aspects to do with his assistant rather put me off. I'm hoping they are finally resolved in the next one. If not, I'll have to reconsider finishing the series.

Mary Ellen wrote: "Speaking of small villages (though not English), I just finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. This is one of the books in a series featuring a French-Canadian policeman, Armand Gamache, ..."

I love the series, Mary Ellen, but the one you just read is a bit off the usual path, as it takes place elsewhere. For now I'm totally committed to continuing--the next one is out in August, I believe.

I liked the mystery, and the location. It was the bad blood between the two I mentioned that has really put me off. I think it has carried on unrealistically (by a long shot!) too long.

The Edith Pearlman book, Binocular Vision, is turning into one of the best collections I've ever read.

I have been wrapping up a few books , that I left half finished. Finally put What Maisie Knew to rest. The character's were the worst society has to offer. Parent's using their child as a pawn, tsk tsk, and it is still going on. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it was a book worth reading.

Also I am still working on The Ginger Tree , I put it aside , because it came to close on the heels of The Painted Veil. I now have had a couple of different books in between, so back to wrapping "The Ginger Tree" up. It is about a young girl from Scotland who goes to Hong Kong in 1906, to be a bride to an Englishman, and falls in love with a Japanese Nobleman. The book spans two wars and is told in a journal form . So far it is interesting enough, I am a little put off by the old fashion language, but that is just me.

Going by reviews by people whose opinion I listen to, I snagged a good used hardback of The Madness of a Seduced Woman. Sigh. This is the first time I'm going to have to put a book aside because the print is too small. Maybe after I have my cataract operations next month...

Ruth wrote: "Going by reviews by people whose opinion I listen to, I snagged a good used hardback of The Madness of a Seduced Woman. Sigh. This is the first time I'm going to have to put a book aside because t..."

you know, Ruth, it was small when I read it nearly 20 years ago, and I thought about that when considering a reread. I wish there were an audio, but sadly, there is not.

Hope your recovery goes quickly!

Just started Philip Kerr's A Man Without Breath, the ninth book in the Bernie Gunther series. Gunther is a detective in Nazi Germany. In this book he is working as such for the Wehrmacht's War Crimes unit. You want to read crime noir .. what could be darker than this. Gunther is actually a good man, but stuck as he is in his job, it is like watching a good man move between the different circles of Hell. The book starts with Gunther trying to save a Jewish man who has just been arrested a month after the fall of Stalingrad. If you haven't any of the Bernie Gunther novels, do not start with this one. Go all the way back to the first, March Violets. I have enjoyed all of them ... but they are not happy reading.

Larry - I picked up a used copy of the first three in the Bernie Gunther series -- hope to get to them soon. I first heard about these books on NPR's "Crime in the City" series.

Greer wrote: "Larry - I picked up a used copy of the first three in the Bernie Gunther series -- hope to get to them soon. I first heard about these books on NPR's "Crime in the City" series."

Greer, that was how I got into the series also, with a trade paperback of the first three books after I had heard a review on NPR. The series is really good at depicting the slow but quickening descent into the madness that was the Third Reich ... and how a man just tries to be a good detective as he has to deal with more and more Nazis. Not just the mean streets of typical crime noir but the meaner official corridors of buildings in Berlin.

Mary Ellen wrote: "Speaking of small villages (though not English), I just finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. This is one of the books in a series featuring a French-Canadian policeman, Armand Gamache, ..."

Mary Ellen, I just finished A Rule Against Murder this past Friday, and I agree with you that the solution was a bit thin. I started reading this series a few months ago and found myself wanting to stay in the town of Three Pines, where Gamache and his wife live. Penny paints a picture of a village where everyone has faults, including the downright nasty old poet, where not everyone likes each other, but where everyone has a place. I also think her choice of holidays darkened by death is effective. Finally, for me, her pacing is "can't put it down". I have all but her newest but have pre-ordered it.

I am reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore with this group.

Portia wrote: "Mary Ellen wrote: "Speaking of small villages (though not English), I just finished A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny. This is one of the books in a series featuring a French-Canadian policema..."

Actually, Gamache lives in Quebec, but he certainly seems to wish more and more that he lived in Three Pines. Frankly, I want to live there, too, despite the high per capita murder rate. :-)