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Brenda wrote: "I know Marianne often talks of coincidences in books she's reading - last night I finished Daisy in Chains where the main character is Maggie Rose. This morning I started [book:Cros..."

see, not just me...

I am reading and have been for some time. It is enjoyable but not an especially fast read, since the author's voice is so strong that it obscures the subject matter at times. Not an Aussie book; the only mention of Australia was disparaging, which I found a bit unpleasant.

Another of those coincidences:
the book I've just finished The One-in-a-Million Boy had a main character Quinn
the one I'm reading now Definitely Dead also has a fairly central character Quinn

The One-in-a-Million Boy centred on the interaction between a young boy and a very old lady
I've just started a Stephen King short story Cookie Jar which is about the interaction between a young boy and a very old man

DH says it's bound to happen when you read a lot: I guess so, but still....

I think the weird part is how we can read them one after another! If you had one last week with Quinn then today, it wouldn't be so strange. But to read them back to back - now that's just creepy! lol

I just finished The Bricks that Built the Houses which was strong on writing but not so strong on plot and am just about to start The Hours which I picked up in a second hand sale - buy a grocery bag full for $5.

I just finished a wonderful Aussie novel called The Boys of Summer. God, I loved it! Here is my review.:
/review/show...

Hi, I have just finished the Freddie Montgomery Trilogy by John Banfield. After reading with joy The Sea, sadly I have not enjoyed these 3 at all. The second book Ghosts was the most enjoyable, the 3rd falling back along similar lines to book 1. I wonder what it says of an author’s personality when they write within the shadows of human kind.

Jeanette wrote: "Hi, I have just finished the Freddie Montgomery Trilogy by John Banfield. After reading with joy The Sea, sadly I have not enjoyed these 3 at all. The second book Ghosts was the most enjoyable, the..."

Ghosts, The Book of Evidence, Athena by John Banville

The Sea

Just finished Alert by James Patterson. Very nice! Definitely my kind of story. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Just finished this one - amazing writing and reading Between a Wolf and a Dog

I'm very much enjoying My Italian Bulldozer: classic Alexander McCall Smith.
Phrynne, you are in for a treat!

Finished Uprooted and was disappointed - I felt very unconnected with the characters in the first half and consequently uninterested in the plot in the second half - so I'm rerererereading The Secret History, which I love for many reasons, not least because nothing happens for so long and yet I am always thoroughly invested in turning the next page.

Marianne wrote: "I'm very much enjoying My Italian Bulldozer: classic Alexander McCall Smith.
Phrynne, you are in for a treat!"

I tried to get it with my Audible token for the month but it wouldn't let me! Too new maybe. I will try again next month

Phrynne wrote: "Marianne wrote: "I'm very much enjoying My Italian Bulldozer: classic Alexander McCall Smith.
Phrynne, you are in for a treat!"

I tried to get it with my Audible token for the month but it wouldn't let me! Too new maybe. I will try again next month ..."

:(

Marianne wrote: "I'm very much enjoying My Italian Bulldozer: classic Alexander McCall Smith.
Phrynne, you are in for a treat!"

I've got this on my wish list

Alexander wrote: "Finished Uprooted and was disappointed - I felt very unconnected with the characters in the first half and consequently uninterested in the plot in the second half - so I'm rererere..."

Alexander, The Secret History is one of my favourites too.

I've just started A Dreadful Daughter's Spells by Leah Broadby and Molly Billygoat

I hate it when there are two authors - but only one comes up in the book search - it is usually the first author's name on the cover - but it feels mean to leave out the second author - and most people don't bother to search for and add the second name

I think Leah Broadby is Molly Billygoat...

And I just checked her website and I am right.

Sally906 wrote: "I've just started A Dreadful Daughter's Spells by Leah Broadby and Molly Billygoat

I hate it w..."

Same person Sally :)

After reading the final book of Freddie Montgomery by John Banville which was a bit of a chore, through all that is listed on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ I found this book by John Boyne.

I am a pretty fussy reader and mostly enjoy books that have some historical value to them. I have found that the contributions from those really remarkable readers on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to be incredibly helpful for me.

THE BOY AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN by John Boyne

Listed for young readers: Like The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by the same author, even as an older reader I enjoyed this book. If John Boyne is trying relate to young readers the wisdom of not running with the pack, or attaching yourself to bigotry or to those who have rascist attitudes and to realise that as humans we sometimes make poor judgements and decisions that are owned by us all for the term of life, he is successful.

The story revolves around the life of a boy that through circumstances finds himself in close contact with Adolf Hitler and is mesmorised by the powerful image of the Führer but due to his immaturity is unable to recognise the evil of this man and his fellow collaborators. After the war he, as an adult is left owning the evil he perpetrated himself and has to come to terms with these deeds.

Yes this I my review, I am yet to work out how to do it from my tablet which I now mostly use other than to copy and paste from notes I keep.

Marianne wrote: "I think Leah Broadby is Molly Billygoat..."

Yes - just spotted that myself - how confusing - I can understand a person writing using a pseudonym - but to have real self and imaginary self both down as co-authors is quirky!!

Mind you the book is quirky - really enjoying it!!

I am currently reading Eden by Australian writer Candice Fox It is the sequel to Hades

Eden by Candice Fox sequel to Hades

Thanks Marianne :)

I just started 1981 Hugo winner The Snow Queen, by Joan D. Vinge.

just checked my library reserves and it looks like the two books I requested they order Unbound and Revisionary have finally come in, so I hope to be currently reading those soon: goodie!

I donated my copy of Libriomancer to them as they only had the 2nd book in the series. Now they will have all 4.

Only a small way into Outlander but definitely enjoying it!

I'm really enjoying Outlander and I have the DVD of the TV series here too. I've worked out I can settle into my ironing while I watch the first five episodes.

Marianne wrote: "Only a small way into Outlander but definitely enjoying it!"

If you read the whole series it should keep you out of mischief for a while:)

Phrynne wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Only a small way into Outlander but definitely enjoying it!"

If you read the whole series it should keep you out of mischief for a while:)"

Just a little while :) and the author has just released the title of the next (No. 9) in the series (though still no word of when the book will be released) Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone

Zoey wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Only a small way into Outlander but definitely enjoying it!"

If you read the whole series it should keep you out of mischief for a while:)"

Just a li..."

She is saying maybe 2017 but isn't committing herself. I am just glad there is to be another one. I thought she might have been too involved in the TV series to write any more:)

I'm reading The Stepmother by Claire Seeber. It's a cracker! Supposedly a modern retelling of Snow White but the roles seemed to be reversed - kind and good stepmother, evil, wicked stepdaughter.

Carolyn wrote: "I'm reading The Stepmother by Claire Seeber. It's a cracker! Supposedly a modern retelling of Snow White but the roles seemed to be reversed - kind and good stepmot..."

Sounds like an interesting on, Carolyn. Will wait on your review. I've gone classics for the moment. Been to Gutenberg and downloaded The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett. It's much like an Anthony Trollope and very enjoyable with gentle irony and humour. At 547 pages not a small read. Then waiting for me is Herman Melville's Benito Cereno, which is free at Amazon. Hope it is more readable than Moby Dick :)

Phrynne wrote: "Marianne wrote: "Only a small way into Outlander but definitely enjoying it!"

If you read the whole series it should keep you out of mischief for a while:)"

It's there in my series challenge, my own TBR challenge and the July challenge so that's three places my little OCD brain can tick it off and feel a sense of achievement.
But yes, I know what you mean: at 864 pages this is not a quick read.

Yes, Marianne, I agree with Phrynne; you do have quite a ways to go yet. At an average 800 pages per novel, you have around 5600 still to read before you read the publication that Gabaldon is working on! That's a lot of treadmill (if it's your treadmill read).

And I do intend to read the whole series: 1/3 into book 1 and I can see I will enjoy more of this!

I'm always late to the parties but I picked up two books from Vinnies last week.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

And

The Lightkeeper's Wife by Karen Viggers

Sharon wrote: "I'm always late to the parties but I picked up two books from Vinnies last week.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

And

[book:The Lightkeeper's Wife|10388503..."

At least when you get them late you also get them for less of a cost!

Sharon wrote: "I'm always late to the parties but I picked up two books from Vinnies last week.

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

And

[book:The Lightkeeper's Wife|10388503..."

And you still have them to enjoy :)

Yes, a bit of a perk as I am a volunteer at Vinnies and can read for free and return them or buy them if I want to keep them :)

Sharon wrote: "Yes, a bit of a perk as I am a volunteer at Vinnies and can read for free and return them or buy them if I want to keep them :)"

Even better Sharon!

I'm currently re-reading one my favourites, Ice Station Zebra by Alistair MacLean.

Wow! That's an oldie! I've read it a very long time ago; it's not even marked on here that I have! But I owned all of Alistair MacLean's novels at one stage :)

It sure is! I'm a big fan of these action classics. I consider Alistair MacLean to be the Matthew Reilly of the 1950's and 1960's.

Another one I loved in the same era was Desmond Bagley :)

Brenda wrote: "Wow! That's an oldie! I've read it a very long time ago; it's not even marked on here that I have! But I owned all of Alistair MacLean's novels at one stage :)"

I read my Dad's copy when I was about 12. Much longer ago than I care to remember:) I know I liked it and read many more of his books!

He was a brilliant author! Such good books - the ones you go and buy the minute they're published ;)

Brenda wrote: "Another one I loved in the same era was Desmond Bagley :)"

He's usually mentioned alongside many other thriller writers like MacLean but I haven't read any of his books before. From the looks of it, I'll have to get right on it! His books sound really good!

They were! And they both died at around the same time :( But I guess the enjoyment lingers on (as long as we can get the books!)