Re: The Finest Hotel in Kabul.
Love the audiobook narration.
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Funniest thing, @Joyce_Montague, I can’t really watch movies at home. I end up getting distracted (checking email, checking headlines, attending to my fuzzy overlords, etc.). Every now and then my hubby will drag me out to a movie where I’m forced to pay attention to the screen, but generally I prefer the book anyway. (Unless lot of stuff explodes, and then I prefer the theater. 
)
I’m glad you thought The Invention of Charlotte Bronte was worth your time. I thought it was a great bio. I’ve read the Brontes (a LOT) but the book made me want to pick up some Gaskell titles. I read North and South many years ago, but don’t remember it well.
And I’m also happy that you gave Angel Down a chance. I think Kraus is one of the more imaginative authors I’ve come across and I love his work.
Oh, definitely pick up a copy of Niall Williams’ This Is Happiness, @Gabi_J. It was such a marvelous, poignant yet feel-good novel. I listened to it in audiobook format and the narrator was perfect. I haven’t read Time of the Child yet. It seems to get mentioned every Christmas so I’m saving for the holidays.
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Thanks for the recommendation of The Finest Hotel in Kabul. I’ve got an Audible credit I didn’t know what to do with; sounds like I’ve found my next book!
BTW, just started The Green Mile. I didn’t realize it’s narrated by Frank Muller, one of my all time favorites (he did the earlier Dark Tower books). Really looking forward to this one. I also didn’t realize that King originally published it as a sort of experiment, putting it out there in serialized paperbacks (inspired by the way some of Dickens’ novels were published back in the day). I haven’t heard how it worked, but since I haven’t seen other authors/publishers jumping on that particular bandwagon I’m guessing it ended up not having a lot of appeal.
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I’m reading ‘Almost Life’ by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. It’s quite an emotional roller coaster! Next up is ‘The Enchanted April’ by Elizabeth von Armin for my book club. It was my pick and when I described it as ‘lovely’ everyone agreed! Some who’ve finished now plan to watch the movie (also lovely).
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You will enjoy the book. I rarely go to the movies and hardly ever watch a movie at home for the same reasons you mentioned!
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I read three books this past week. I will begin with my favorite:
A Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn.This is an excellent memoir was written by the granddaughter of a German spy for the Japanese to help arrange for the December 7,1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The Kuehn family fled Germany to protect a niece who was half Jewish. They moved to the island of Oahu. Her grandparents and aunt were compensated by the Japanese government to gather information for the upcoming attack. Meanwhile her father and sibling were unaware of their family activities.
I highly recommend this book.
I also read Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg. It is somewhat a continuation of her previous novel The Story of Arthur Truluv. This is a delightful read by one of my favorite authors.
I finally finished The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen. This is a historical fiction about a couple who have the courage to face the love and loss in Venice, Italy during the trauma of World War II.
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Keeper of Lost Children… not quite enough reading time these past couple weeks due to crazy work stuff. Hopefully I can start reading more now that the work situation has been resolved.
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I loved Family of Spies also. Can you even imagine uncovering that kind of secret in your own family? I was so sorry she never got more info from her father.
I thought The Enchanted April was delightful.
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Finishing There are Rivers in the Sky—so good! I recommend for those who love dual or triple timelines that all intersect in some way and who enjoy middle eastern history.
I’m going to add The Finest Hotel in Kabul to my holds list as so many are recommending it.
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Yes, the book was amazing. I bought my husband a hard copy to read for my husband to read.
It was especially intriguing for me because I lived in Kailua from 6 months to 3 years old. (1951-1954)
My father was stationed back to Pearl Harbor in 1968 during my junior year.
My mother remarked there was a big change in the environment and culture when returning in1968.
Wow I can just imagine the change now and most of the tourists are traveling to the other islands now.
Hawaii seems like a nice duty station especially in the years your father was there. I’ll bet Family of Spies really resonated with you.
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There are Rivers in the Sky was a favorite of mine. It was so beautifully constructed and told. I’m only about two hours from finishing The Finest Hotel in Kabul and I’m pretty sure it will make my best of the year list.
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I’m reading KIN by Tayara Jones (spelling?)…really enjoying the writing, the format,
and the content (about halfway).
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I loved Frozen River. It is one of my favorites. I could not put it down.
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I am finishing We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter. She is coming in another week to speak at a club I belong to. I am listening to it. It is really well read. I finished Gideon’s Trumpet. The story of the man who had the law changed so all are represented by a lawyer. I read Wealth of Shadows that I loved. Historical fiction. A story about World War 2 that no one knows about.
We just got home from a 10 day vacation so I’m still working on Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. Although they churn out the “Killing” books, I’ve actually learned a lot about the WWII Battle of the Bulge. The only available Liars Poker version I could find was the audiobook and I wasn’t able to listen to it on our trip so I’m hitting it again.
Thanks for mentioning Gideon’s Trumpet, it sounds really interesting. I’ve added it to my wish list (wish I had time to read everything that looks interesting list.)