I liked Gone Girl at the beginning but my feelings went downhill when I realized the set up, and when I realized how stupid the police were and horrible everyone else was. The only part I liked was the take on Nancy Grace - that had me nodding my head and laughing; soooo true! Otherwise - how did this get to be a best seller?
Anyway, now reading Cutting Stone. I tried to read this when it came out but for some reason didn't take. So reading it now for a book group and really liking it. The history of modern Ethiopia is a big plus.
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What Are You Reading? March 2013
- Madeleine
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 5790
- Joined: August 2008
- Currently reading: "The Sicilian Method" by Andrea Camilleri
- Preferred HF: Plantagenets, Victorian, crime, dual time-frame
- Location: Essex/London
I'm actually preferring it now I've got into it more. I have my suspicions as to what's going on but we'll see. I agree the police are pretty useless so far, but then they usually are in these books.
I have to admit that a lot of the American cultural references are lost on me.
I have to admit that a lot of the American cultural references are lost on me.
Currently reading: "The Sicilian Method" by Andrea Camilleri
- JaneConsumer
- Reader
- Posts: 125
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: U.S.
- Contact:
Gone Girl was actually the worse read of the year for me last year. OTT hateful. Unlikeable characters. Ridiculous ending. I kept reading it because of all the rave reviews, but now I understand they were just raving mad. 
I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.

I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 3564
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
- Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
- Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
- Location: California Bay Area
[quote=""Ash""]
Anyway, now reading Cutting Stone. I tried to read this when it came out but for some reason didn't take. So reading it now for a book group and really liking it. The history of modern Ethiopia is a big plus.[/quote]
Cutting for Stone is --different. I read it last year (same bookgroup, we read whatever is the hottest book going and try to figure out why) and I'm still not sure whether I liked it or not. Some of it was very good. Particularly the parts where it was obvious that the author was a doctor who loved his profession.
Where the book fell down for me, in retrospect, was in certain gaps in reasoning and logic of the part of the characters -- with so much experience of the medical side of women's issues, there are places where I was shaking my head at the twin's choices. There was a serious disconnect there.
Anyway, now reading Cutting Stone. I tried to read this when it came out but for some reason didn't take. So reading it now for a book group and really liking it. The history of modern Ethiopia is a big plus.[/quote]
Cutting for Stone is --different. I read it last year (same bookgroup, we read whatever is the hottest book going and try to figure out why) and I'm still not sure whether I liked it or not. Some of it was very good. Particularly the parts where it was obvious that the author was a doctor who loved his profession.
Where the book fell down for me, in retrospect, was in certain gaps in reasoning and logic of the part of the characters -- with so much experience of the medical side of women's issues, there are places where I was shaking my head at the twin's choices. There was a serious disconnect there.
- Lisa
- Bibliophile
- Posts: 1153
- Joined: August 2012
- Favourite HF book: Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman
- Preferred HF: Any time period/location. Timeslip, usually prefer female POV. Also love Gothic melodrama.
- Location: Northeast Scotland
[quote=""JaneConsumer""]
I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.[/quote]
I'm about 60% through Mist on Bronte Moor, will almost certainly finish later tonight as it's such an easy read. I am impressed so far, I like the characterisations and my former teenage self can identify with Heather's reactions and thoughts.
I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.[/quote]
I'm about 60% through Mist on Bronte Moor, will almost certainly finish later tonight as it's such an easy read. I am impressed so far, I like the characterisations and my former teenage self can identify with Heather's reactions and thoughts.
[quote=""JaneConsumer""]Gone Girl was actually the worse read of the year for me last year. OTT hateful. Unlikeable characters. Ridiculous ending. I kept reading it because of all the rave reviews, but now I understand they were just raving mad. 
I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.[/quote]
Yep I agree 'Gone Girl' is the worst book I've read so far this year and the whole premise of the story is OTT and offends the intelligence of the reader. I figured it out in the beginning so it was *roll my eyes*
once I got to the end...sigh!
I will now look up MBM and see if I like it.
Bec

I'm re-reading Wuthering Heights, after being inspired to do so when reading Mist on Bronte Moor. MBM was surprisingly good. I felt that the author got the Bronte characterizations just right. There were a couple of modernisms, one of which was glaring. But, mostly, I felt as if I was in the time period.[/quote]
Yep I agree 'Gone Girl' is the worst book I've read so far this year and the whole premise of the story is OTT and offends the intelligence of the reader. I figured it out in the beginning so it was *roll my eyes*

I will now look up MBM and see if I like it.
Bec

- Alisha Marie Klapheke
- Avid Reader
- Posts: 376
- Joined: November 2010
- Location: Franklin, TN
- Contact:
[quote=""annis""]Posted by Alisha Marie
In a similar vein and also highly recommended, Mal Peet's Tamar.[/quote]
I'll check that out. Thanks, Annis! It's good to be around here again. I've missed you all. Dang day job. ; )
In a similar vein and also highly recommended, Mal Peet's Tamar.[/quote]
I'll check that out. Thanks, Annis! It's good to be around here again. I've missed you all. Dang day job. ; )
- JaneConsumer
- Reader
- Posts: 125
- Joined: August 2008
- Location: U.S.
- Contact:
Child of the Phoenix
I started reading Barbara Erskine's Child of the Phoenix. I'm only about 100 pages into it, and I'm enjoying it. At first, I was confused about the main character Eleyne (alternately spelled Elen, Ellen or Helen). But I think Erskine has taken some liberties with what is known or accepted as fact about Llewelyn's and Joan's children.
I also felt uncomfortable with her portrayal of Joan, as I vividly remember how Sharon Kay Penman portrayed her in Here Be Dragons.
Nonetheless, it's a really compelling story and quite enjoyable, if you can suspend belief.
I also felt uncomfortable with her portrayal of Joan, as I vividly remember how Sharon Kay Penman portrayed her in Here Be Dragons.
Nonetheless, it's a really compelling story and quite enjoyable, if you can suspend belief.
[quote=""JaneConsumer""]I started reading Barbara Erskine's Child of the Phoenix. I'm only about 100 pages into it, and I'm enjoying it. At first, I was confused about the main character Eleyne (alternately spelled Elen, Ellen or Helen). But I think Erskine has taken some liberties with what is known or accepted as fact about Llewelyn's and Joan's children.
I also felt uncomfortable with her portrayal of Joan, as I vividly remember how Sharon Kay Penman portrayed her in Here Be Dragons.
Nonetheless, it's a really compelling story and quite enjoyable, if you can suspend belief.[/quote]
I recall struggling a bit at the first of this, same reasons as you - Penman's version sticks with you. I just told myself it was just a story and kicked back and enjoyed it. Kudos to Erskine in the notes, IIRC she doesn't play at it all being *true* history.
I also felt uncomfortable with her portrayal of Joan, as I vividly remember how Sharon Kay Penman portrayed her in Here Be Dragons.
Nonetheless, it's a really compelling story and quite enjoyable, if you can suspend belief.[/quote]
I recall struggling a bit at the first of this, same reasons as you - Penman's version sticks with you. I just told myself it was just a story and kicked back and enjoyed it. Kudos to Erskine in the notes, IIRC she doesn't play at it all being *true* history.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be
...is the only place I want to be