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luv2cryThe newest member. And I mean new.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist| author: | Mohsin Hamid |
| discussion date: | 2008-07-16 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-09-16I thought this was page-turning... Although it was flawed, I didn't mind it because the pacing and writing kept me engaged. The ending was a little irritating, but, I would still recommend it.
A Curious Earth| author: | Gerard Woodward |
| discussion date: | 2008-06-16 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-09-16The best scene in this book featured the highly sexualized main character whose teeth had just fallen out. Things went downhill from there. Sadly, I thought it was a bit of a chore to read.
March| author: | Geraldine Brooks |
| discussion date: | 2008-05-19 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-06-12Loved it! The writing was beautiful, and the story intriguing and wonderfully crafted. Didn't mind the coincidences. A sad story for sure. But the best book I've read in a long while.
Jennifer Government
luv2cry posted on: 2008-05-19If only this book was 150 pages shorter -- or better yet, if only this was a movie and not a book. There were some interesting ideas here -- but I wouldn't recommend it.
A Man Walks Into A Room| author: | Nicole Krauss |
| discussion date: | 2008-03-19 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-03-21I liked this one enough, though I much preferred the first half or so, before the story veers into bizzaro desert brain experiment world. I thought that the author was hinting at a few interesting ideas here (the whole memory/identity/empathy discussion), but the ideas were a bit too undone for my taste. The writing is enjoyable, though -- and even a bit lyrical in parts.
Utterly Monkey| author: | Nick Laird |
| discussion date: | 2008-02-21 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-03-21Well, it you want to read about a kinda uninteresting guy's corporate life, then pick up this book. Maybe I'm just not the audience for this, but I found this one to be a real chore...
Adverbs: A Novel| author: | David Handler |
| discussion date: | 2008-01-16 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-03-21Over my head! And most other people's, I think. Better for this author to stick with children's books... I found this impossibly tough to follow, though it was very imaginative. Too imaginative, in fact.
A Spot of Bother luv2cry posted on: 2008-01-15This was more entertaining than I had expected... Though the characters weren't that interesting. Very medium, as far as thumbs-medium goes...
Slow Man| author: | J. M. Coetzee |
| discussion date: | 2007-11-14 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-01-15Ohhh, when he says slow, he means slow. Why do writers think that people want to read about writing? This is a close look at sexual repression, lifelong indifference, and a dream-world where a character from another book (or so I've heard) crosses over into this one.
The Kite Runner| author: | Khaled Hosseini |
| discussion date: | 2007-10-17 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2008-01-15What could be worse than child rape?
This novel is manipulative at best...
Small Island| author: | Andrea Levy |
| discussion date: | 2007-09-19 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-10-02Beautifully written, funny, intriguing characters, unique settings... Some of the plot elements were certainly far-feteched, but I didn't mind. This was a real page-turner.
The Emporer's Children luv2cry posted on: 2007-10-02I thought this book was torturous... It seemed intriguing at first, but then when you found that nothing really happens and there is the whole Sept 11th plot device thrown in for good measure -- it is not worth picking this one up. It's particularly long, and I couldn't stand any of the characters. All were whiney, masochistic, miserable, or totally out of it. I think the cover is the best part of this book.
Elements of Style| author: | Wendy Wasserstein |
| discussion date: | 2007-07-25 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-08-28Entertaining, light, a great summer read. A modern-day Jane Austen-esque novel, full of foibles and unrequited love.
Suite Française| author: | Irene Nemirovsky |
| discussion date: | 2007-06-20 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-06-27Of course given the author's circumstances, one reads this with certain allowances. Had the book been written under "normal" circumstances (ie, edited and polished) I would think it was a little too long, too flowery, and the narrative seemed a bit lacking. There isn't much of a payoff here, though that does seem unfair to expect I suppose...
Please Don't Come Back from the Moon| author: | Dean Bakopoulos |
| discussion date: | 2007-05-23 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-06-27I enjoyed the writing here, and I thought the story had some interesting parts but wasn't particularly fascinating. A little melancholy, and I did like that about it.
The Year of Endless Sorrows: A Novel luv2cry posted on: 2007-06-27I had a lot of trouble getting through this one. I thought it was dull, bland, the narrator was a tough person to have to spend time with. A bit of an arduous task overall.
Veronica| author: | Mary Gaitskill |
| discussion date: | 2007-03-28 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-03-30This is one of my most hated books. Possibly the worst!
The History of Love| author: | Nicole Krauss |
| discussion date: | 2007-02-21 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-03-30This book was amazing. The story was interesting, the characters were likeable, and the plot elements were unexpected but believeable. I really enjoyed it.
Housekeeping: A Novel| author: | Marilynne Robinson |
| discussion date: | 2007-01-17 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-03-30These wacko ladies kind of drove me nuts. I could appreciate the language, but I thought that was more interesting than the storytelling. I found the characters to be a but frustrating and I thought it was difficult to relate to them somehow...
Wickett's Remedy: A Novel luv2cry posted on: 2007-01-16This was a rough read. The dire circumstances! The coldness! The distance! The notes in the margins! I thought it was an unfulfilling experience. But, now I can say that I know more about Boston's bout with influenza than most.
Liars and Saints: A Novel| author: | Maile Meloy |
| discussion date: | 2006-11-15 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2007-01-16I loved this book just as much (if not more than) I loved the cover. Interesting characters, interesting relationships, interesting story. The characters stay with you...
The Confessions of Max Tivoli| author: | Andrew Sean Greer |
| discussion date: | 2006-09-20 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-10-18This book was terrible. The story absurd, the characters unappealing, the events contrived. Don't read it!
Saturday luv2cry posted on: 2006-09-18I was really amazed by this book; it swept me away. I thought the writing was beautiful and the story touches on many interesting ideas. Maybe the ending was a bit far-fetched, but I didn't mind. Enjoyable all around.
Prep: A Novel| author: | Curtis Sittenfeld |
| discussion date: | 2006-07-19 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-08-21I had really high expectations for this book and I thought it was a major let-down. The story was just dull -- the protagonist terribly boring, and nothing much actually happens. You'd think that since Lee lives so much inside her head, she'd have more interesting stuff going on in there. A total snooze!
Middlesex: A Novel| author: | Jeffrey Eugenides |
| discussion date: | 2006-06-21 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-08-21I thought the writing here was skillful and beautiful, but the plott too uneven and the premise too gimmicky. I suppose I enjoyed the read enough, but I think this thing is a bit overrated.
Never Let Me Go| author: | Kazuo Ishiguro |
| discussion date: | 2006-05-17 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-06-21While I didn't notice(!) the philosophical themes at work here, I was engaged by the writing and storytelling here and enjoyed the book very much. I was impressed with the way in which this male author could really get inside the female mind -- it seemed completely realistic. I also was swept away by the sentiment and nostalgia that pervaded the book.
The Normals : A Novel luv2cry posted on: 2006-05-16This novel was tough to get through. It seemed very self-indulgent and I found it difficult to relate to or sympathize with the protagonist at all. His neurosis and "quirky" sense of humor annoyed me more than anything and I really couldn't get past his adolescent disposition. The story was dull and generally unsatisfying in the end.
A Million Little Pieces| author: | James Frey |
| discussion date: | 2006-03-15 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-03-22I thought this was an entertaining and page-turning read. I wasn't expecting to be pulled in, but I was, and I thought the story was captivating. I didn't love the introspective meditation as much, but the characters were interesting and I admired James' approach to recovery and rejection of the basic AA tenets. I can see why so many recovering addicts saw his plight as a story of hope.
Play It As It Lays: A Novel| author: | Joan Didion |
| discussion date: | 2006-02-15 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-02-17I loved this book. It was totally captivating, and the prose was very straightforward. You didn't have to muddle through tedious diatribes for pages on end. The language was sparse, but still, so much action and meaning was conveyed. It was beautifully written and a pleasurable read.
Snow| author: | Orhan Pamuk |
| discussion date: | 2006-01-18 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2006-02-15This was a somewhat tough one to get through. The storytelling was really beautiful and the story itself was suspenseful. But some scenes really dragged and the author seemed to get very caught up in certain descriptions that didn't seem to require quite so much attention. Thank god for booklyn, otherwise I don't think I would have finished this one on my own. Very interesting overall, though. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to someone looking for a major commitment.
Little Children luv2cry posted on: 2006-02-15I thought this novel was very entertaining. The writing is engaging and the characters are all quirky or interesting in some way. The suburban landscape and dynamics were somewhat frightening but I found the story page-turning nonetheless. It was great fun to read.
The City of Your Final Destination| author: | Peter Cameron |
| discussion date: | 2005-11-16 |
| picked by: | luv2cry |
luv2cry posted on: 2005-12-06I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The story was relatively light, but there were still weighty themes being dealt with here, and the characterization was great. It was also refreshing to read something so driven by dialogue. The pacing was fast and I thought it was page-turning. Overall, a satisfying read.
The Laments : A Novel| author: | George Hagen |
| discussion date: | 2005-10-17 |
| picked by: | chiclet |
luv2cry posted on: 2005-10-18I enjoyed this novel immensely. I thought it was page-turning throughout -- the story never lagged, the characters were well-drawn, the writing was engaging. Some moments were absolutely hilarious, and overall, I thought the story was clever. My only reservation was the ending, which was a bit abrupt, but I embraced it nonetheless. This was one of the best books I've read in years.
Bandbox| author: | Thomas Mallon |
| discussion date: | 2005-09-23 |
| picked by: | bizzyb |
luv2cry posted on: 2005-10-10This novel makes for an interesting period piece. New York, early 20th century, what could be better than that? The mood is fun, dreamy, an escape. But don't expect to get to know these characters. The author keeps them all at an arm's length -- and there are many! Be prepared to keep a list of who's who (including nicknames, and there are many)--otherwise you will drive yourself mad. Thank good for the upcoming Booklyn meeting to motivate me to finish this one... I wouldn't call this pleasurable reading, but overall it was a relatively satisfying read.
Atonement luv2cry posted on: 2005-09-06If only this book ended after Part 1, it would have made a fine novella. The writing is exquisite throughout but it couldn't sustain my interest throughout the entire, excruciatingly slow narrative... The battle scenes in particular seemed to need more of a story.
The class issues in the book were interesting but they seemed only to confirm longstanding beliefs; there was nothing unexpected there.