Kim - I did read Brooklyn before reading Long Island - and in this instance, I watched the movie Brooklyn before reading the book. (Probably like most readers, I usually prefer to read the book first.) I’d heard great feedback on the movie but I’m still happy I read the book . . .it helped to fill in a few holes/questions in the movie.
Both books were enjoyable (but I may have liked Brooklyn a bit more??) . . . and there is a character briefly mentioned in Long Island - Nora Webster that I found out is an earlier novel by Toibin! (The novel is titled with the character’s name - Nora Webster.) I think I’ll wait to read that book until after our group discussion of Long Island is over.
Have you read any of Toibin’s books? And, thanks for the confidence vote on The Briar Club!
Thanks for the feedback, Anne! I enjoy audio books - and often will do a print book/audio book combo. I like the audio book version for my walks or for completing household chores. I’ll follow through with your recommendation for The Bee Sting audio. The book was mentioned by a bookseller - so it is a bit of a risk for me.
I especially enjoy audiobooks when the story is situated in a foreign country - it helps to hear the correct pronunciation (hopefully) and in a foreign accent. (I do cringe when this is a mispronunciation of a term/word I know - such as pronouncing the national language of the Philippines as TAG-a-log instead of tuh-GAA-luhg)
@Diane_Jones I didn’t know Brooklyn had been made into a movie. I’ll need to stream that sometime soon. I also didn’t know about Nora Webster, LOL. Another book for the infamous, ever-growing list.
I did read both Brooklyn and Long Island. Like you, I enjoyed the earlier book just a bit more, primarily because of its historical fiction element, I think.
I have just started the book and already hooked. I’ve only read Flight Behavior by Kingsolver, but thoroughly enjoyed it, so had great expectations for Demon Copperhead, and already have exceeded those a mere 7 chapters in!
I just finished The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. I loved it. Wonderful story about a forbidden love between a Turkish Cypriot and a Greek Cypriot. One of the main narrators is a fig tree! I didn’t know much about the history of Cyprus and did some research after I finished the book. A many layered and beautifully written book.
Yes, I read There Are Rivers in the Sky which I thought was an excellent read but it dealt with some heavy topics so it may not be for everyone. I also read her The Bastard of Istanbul year ago. It was good but the writing had a very different feel from her most recent two. I definitely want to read her earlier books. You also might find her personal story interesting.
@Roberta_Winchester, I agree with @Gabi_J’s assessment of her books. Although Rivers was good, as she mentions, it’s not a light read. It’s heavily based on fact, though, which I really appreciate.
If you’re interested in Shafak’s background, we’ve got a good interview with her here: Elif Shafak author interview. It was done for Bastard of Istanbul but it’s heavily about her background so you may find it interesting. There’s a link on that page, too, to an interview she did with World Literature Today for her most recent book.