What Are You Reading? March 2013

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Tue March 5th, 2013, 6:57 pm

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.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue March 5th, 2013, 7:44 pm

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.

JaneConsumer · Post by **JaneConsumer** » Tue March 5th, 2013, 8:07 pm

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.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Tue March 5th, 2013, 8:39 pm

[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.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Tue March 5th, 2013, 8:53 pm

[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.

rebecca · Post by **rebecca** » Wed March 6th, 2013, 12:42 am

[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

Alisha Marie Klapheke · Post by **Alisha Marie Klapheke** » Thu March 7th, 2013, 5:23 pm

[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. ; )

JaneConsumer · Post by **JaneConsumer** » Thu March 7th, 2013, 6:14 pm

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.

Tanzanite · Post by **Tanzanite** » Thu March 7th, 2013, 11:54 pm

Started an old OOP - The Woodville by S.R. Bridge about Elizabeth Woodville. Not very far yet but according to the brief author's note at the beginning, it should be a sympathetic portrayal. Plus it has a great cover!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Fri March 8th, 2013, 12:51 am

[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.