Monthly Archives: November 2018

My Year of Rest and Relaxation ~ by Ottessa Moshfech

Bottom line –  it’s a very good book if you can stand a bit of perversity.  Except for the yukkie parts,  which were not as indelicate as in Moshfegh’s other novels, I really rather enjoyed the book .   Our … Continue reading

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Educated: A Memoir ~ by Tara Westover

Yes, it’s as good as its hype – a fine, fine book.  If I’d known it was this good I wouldn’t have waited.  Seriously. And I darn near cried – not quite. I’d been looking at this widely acclaimed book … Continue reading

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Seize the Day – the movie

I rarely watch movies,  this might be the second movie I’ve watched this year and it’s 2 days from December.  Oh well.   I’m not impressed.    I watched because I think  I saw it back in 1986,  when it … Continue reading

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Seize the Day ~ by Saul Bellow

I read this for a group, sometimes like Bellow, but other times I’m not so hot on him.  I did see the movie which is based on this book and I remember liking it,  but not being blown away.   … Continue reading

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Twain’s Feast: ~ by Audible Originals

This was a freebie for platinum members at Audible.com and it’s an “Original” so it’s not a simple reading of the book of the same title; it is acknowledged to be an adaptation. .  I rarely read these but this … Continue reading

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The Switch ~ by Joseph Finder

Overall I’d say don’t bother although parts are pretty good. It’s not what I expected at all,  but it was on sale and I’d enjoyed a couple of Finder’s books in the past.   This particular book is kind of … Continue reading

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Force of Nature ~ by Jane Harper

On sale and listening only  –  I’d read one by her prior and enjoyed it and I was ready for a good crime novel so …  Yes,  this is good – not outstanding, but it’s fun and a worthy successor … Continue reading

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Factfulness ~ by Hans Rosling

Don’t let the simple language fool you,  this is quite a good book,  inspiring even, if you finish.  After I got through the first,  1/3 arguing with the author like I was, I quite enjoyed it.  In some ways Rosling’s … Continue reading

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The Crisis of the Middle- Class Constitution: by Ganesh Sitaraman

It’s been awhile since I read a good old political/economics book and because this was on sale and recommended I got it,  both  read and listened and was very pleased.  It’s great if your interests run along these lines – … Continue reading

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The Witch Elm ~ by Tana French

Excellent book!  Be warned that it’s slow,  but I knew that beforehand and settled in for long weekend read.  Tana French is a favorite crime writer and Paul Nugent is a new-to-me narrator who turned out to be great.   I was … Continue reading

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The Colors of All the Cattle~ by Alexander McCall Smith

First of all,  I hate this new editor business for several reasons.  (Just wanted to make that clear up front.)  Those who know me know I read the books of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series as they come … Continue reading

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Ghostwritten ~ by David Mitchell

Out of all the novels and stories I’ve read by David Mitchell my favorites are Cloud Atlasand The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.  Sad to say,  I seem to get less enjoyment from the newer works, so it’s a … Continue reading

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By Love Possessed ~ by James Gould Cozzens 

What a waste of time and paper! Why? First, Cozzens never uses a lone, single word when a whole convoluted paragraph full of them can be had. This book is as dense as the London fog near the coal burning plant in … Continue reading

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American Wolf: ~ by Nate Blakeslee x2

I read this about a month ago but  I very much enjoyed it and in order to remember it well enough to participate in a discussion I decided to reread it.    Yes,  it was definitely worth it because where … Continue reading

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The Return: ~ by Hisham Matar

I got this expecting some kind of easy-breezy memoir, I guess. Big WRONG-O! It’s the poignant yet sometimes tension-filled and occasionally exciting true tale of a man in search of his father, his father’s ghost, his family, his country,  his … Continue reading

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Shell ~ by Kristina Olsson

I have to thank Lisa over at AnzLit for highly recommending this book I may never otherwise have heard of.  But I’ve known her for a long time and we share a love of Australian Lit like Patrick  White, Tim … Continue reading

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