BABBLING BOOKS

RonnieJacobs · Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Books read in June

Ok so am quick of the mark again lol

Fat Girl - Judith Moore 9/10
Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy - Fiona Neill 9/10
Bones to Ashes - Kathy Reichs 8/10
remind me again why i need a man - claudia carroll 7/10
Dangerous Lady - Martina Cole 10/10
In the Red - Alexis Hall 9/10
In my sisters shoes - Sinead moriaty

Not Read
Suite Francaise
Blaze - Stephen King
The Giants House

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too many books so little time

jobar · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject:

Here are my June selection

liars and Saints ~ Maile Meloy..8/10..Families in small town America
The Infidelity Chain ~ Tess Stimson..8/10..Relationships going wrong
The French Gardener ~ Santa Montefiore..Gentle Love story
The Memory Garden ~ Rachel Hore..9/10..Atmospheric, beautifully written
On the edge ~ Richard Hammond..9/10..Fascinating glimpse into a very traumatic time
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee ~ Rebecca Miller..9/10..Loved it, quite quirky
The Girl from World's End ~ Leah Fleming..6/10..Hated it
Flesh and Blood ~ John Harvey..9/10..Loved it
Ash and Bone ~ John Harvey..9/10..Loved it
High Noon ~ Nora Roberts..9/10..Loved it
The Galliard ~ Margaret Irwin..8/10..A bit slow, quite old fashioned now
Life Class ~ Pat Barker..7/10..A ponderous look at WW1
Family Tree ~ Barbara Delinsky...9/10...Poignant look at racial issues

My book of the month is The French Gardener
My book booby is The Girl from World's End

Daniela-26 · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:00 pm Post subject:

I finally finished:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

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Reading: The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
2009 '1001 Challenge':

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:52 pm Post subject:

Thanks for starting this thread!
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Kilgore Trout · Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject:

I started The Count of Monte Christo recently, so if I finish just that this month (it's HUGE) I shall be pleased. Saying that, I am really enjoying it so don't really mind how long it takes.

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2008 '1001 Challenge' Books: 9

miranda · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

zanthewitch · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

My June Reads thus far:
The Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry (Publisher copy)
Get this when you can folks it's BRILLIANT! out later this year in the UK
Uneasy Lies the head - Jean Plaidy

Zan
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READING

The blood of Elves - Andrzej Sapkowski

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annecater · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

zanthewitch · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:00 pm Post subject:

I had no idea what to expect when I started it - and thought it might be a 'chore' - but as I had volunteered to read it I thought I should give it a fair go. It's the sort of book I could have curled up with for the day. I can understand why it's not for everyone though.

Zan
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READING

The blood of Elves - Andrzej Sapkowski

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heathera · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

Although there's a few days of this month left, I can't see me finishing any more books. So my reading selection for June is:

The Food of Love - Anthony Capella - thoroughly enjoyed 8/10

The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks - was surprised to find this a compelling, page-turner. 8/10

The Bookseller of Kabul - Asne Seierstad - really enjoyed this. Very thought-provoking. Looking forward to tuning into Radio 4's book club on 6th July to listen in to a discussion about this book with Asne Seierstad. My favourite read of the month. 9/10

Animal Farm - George Orwell. Short but relevant and thought-provoking 9/10

Dream Angus - Alexander McCall Smith - Not one of his best but a sweet and lyrical collection of short stories based on folk tales around the Celtic God of Dreams. 6/10.

This is a good month for me as recently I've only be averaging 3 books a month. So 5 completed and another one started is great! Plus 2 1001 book challenge reads have got in!
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Currently Reading:

The Moonlit Cage - Linda Holeman

1001 Book Challenge:
2009 - 4
2008 - 14
Books Available for Swapping on RISI

wonderlake · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:42 pm Post subject:

June

I finished
-The Floating Opera by John Barth and read

- Seize the Day, Saul Bellow
- Little Women, Louisa M Alcott

I am now on Surfacing by Margaret Atwod
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Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009

1001 challenge 2009: 11

seanat · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

Immortality by Milan Kundera 6/10 - very clever first half , then i got bored and gave up.

Foreign Fruit by Jojo Moyes 7/10 - nice light, forgetable read.

The Partisan's Daughter by Louis De Bernieres 8/10 - enjoyed this.

The Gathering by Anne Enright 4/10- skim read second half as life is tooooo short.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 8/10 - books are illegal in this futuristic novel, really different, enjoyed it.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid 7/10 - enjoyed this, but the romance irritated me.

Flesh House by Stuart MacBride 8/10 - more gore than usual, but very pacy, enjoyed it.

Set in Motion by Valerie Martin 7/10 - really liked this , then i got confused by the end.

The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar 5/10 - not for me really, think i need my books to be more believable.lol

Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi 7/10 - more serious than her other books, good but too many cliches.

Sorry by Gail Jones 6/10 - bit hard to read, interesting story of very disfunctional family in Aussie out-back.

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir 7/10 - much preferred Innocent Traitor, but it was alright.

Murder in the Museum by Simon Brett 7/10 - my first of this author series, enjoyed it!

Witness at the Wedding by Simon Brett 8/10 - even better!

The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman 7/10 - good but lacked something, did tear-up a little at the end though.

Losing You by Nicci French 7/10 - dragged in places, unsatisfactory end but ok.

annecater · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

How To Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer: a collection of short stories by a first-time author. All narrated by a female or have a female lead, as with most short story collections, there are some that I didnt like so much, but on the whole I enjoyed the collection.

Goodnight, Beautiful by Dorothy Koomson - Advance review copy - the author has stated that she want no reviews prior to the publishing date, so I cant say alot. As with her other books, I thought the idea for the story was excellent but that she becomes bogged down with the unnecessary details. Could be a real tearjerker - but not really for me.

The Year of my Miraculous Reappearance by Catherine Ryan Hyde: A young adult novel not yet published in the UK by the author of Pay It Forward. I enjoyed every page of this one. It illustrates the life of a young teen and her struggle with an alcoholic parent and the ripple-effect of alcoholism. Heart breaking and very tough in parts - should be an essential teen read.

Pack Up The Moon by Anna McPartlin: This had been sitting on my TBR for ages. I really enjoyed this light and easy read. There were moments of sadness as the story started with a tragic accident - the lead character Emma was likeable and very human. I look forward to reading her other books.

In The Red - The Diary of a Recovering Shopaholic by Alexis Hall: Written in diary form - a true account of one womans quest to get out of the red. Very funny in parts and I think most of us could relate to it in parts.

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis: I've also posted a review of this one. The first in a trilogy for young adults set in war torn Afghanistan. Paravana's happy family life is ripped apart by the Taliban - Parvana has to dress as a boy in order for her family to survive. A wonderful read that brings home the real life tragedy that is Afghanistan.

The Book Boy by Joanna Trolloppe: Part of the Quick Reads series, about a woman who cannot read or write and how she makes friends with a local thug so that he can teach her. I didnt enjoy this at all - it was unbelieveable and frankly, quite silly.

A Simple Act of Violence by RJ Ellory: Advance review copy - due for general release in October. I've posted a review of this one too and cant praise it highly enough. Very different to A Quiet Belief in Angels, but still a great read. A hefty book at 600 pages, but I found it fast paced - a great thriller.

Under A Blood Red Sky by Kate Furnivall : Another Advance Review Copy and due for general release later this year (published in USA as The Red Scarf). My review of this is in the Review section. Another new author for me, and I'm thrilled to have discovered her. An excellent story set in 1930s Russia - at times very very grim, but a beautiful story runs throughout with some magic thrown in for good measure.

Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis: The second in the trilogy. Another excellent read - in this one Parvana is trekking across Afghanistan alone in search of her family. Even more heartbreaking than the first - but essential reading for young people I think.

How To Talk To A Widower by Jonathan Tropper: Another that had been on my TBR for ages. I wasnt that impressed really - havent got much to say about it.

The Metamorphasis by Franz Kafka : A short story about a man who wakes up to find that he has turned into an insect!!! Bizarre but very well written - I enjoyed it but dont think I could take much more of it - I was glad it was only 70 something pages long!
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

Tigerlily · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

A terrible, terrible reading month for me

Read & still reading just one book:

A Simple Act of Violence by R. J. Ellory.

It's been a stressful month and I'm glad it's over.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

eightlegs · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject:

Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad (1001) An interesting book, a bit deep for me I think but I certainly can understand why it might have been an eye opener for some when first released. 8/10

Dead Famous – Ben Elton Started this soon after the current series of Big Brother (don't watch!). It's a satire on the BB phenomenon with a murder involved. Quite enjoyed it! 8/10

The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks (1001) Quite liked this one, although extreme I felt it showed how distored children become from abuse, of whatever type. Like the almost fantasy element. 8/10

Tipping the Velvet – Sarah Waters (1001) A great book, a few twists and turns and plenty of story. Not quite as good as Fingersmith IMO but expectations were high! 9/10

On the Edge – Richard Hammond I think I'm basically a nosey person, I love biographies, finding out how people think and what makes them tick. I did find this one interesting, but certainly felt that without the accident (about halfway through) there would have been no story. He touches on how close he came to severe permanent brain damage but understandably doesn't spell out how awful it might have been. 7/10

Dissolution – C J Sansom About a third of this left to go, good so far.

blueflower · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject:

Yeah - I read a book!!!!!!!!!!

A Quiet Belief in Angels
R.J. Ellory

But I can't say what I thought of it for fear of being drummed out of BB

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