Re: Escape from Kabul.
Thanks. I will look this book up as well. I had a business acquaintance years ago that volunteered with an NGO that worked with Afghani women. I wish I had stayed in touch because I long to hear about all the changes they have experienced.
I envisioned a movie, too. There would be a cast of characters!
Land by Maggie O’Farrell and Whistler by Ann Patchett. Audiobook format for both. Whistler was read by Ann Patchett. Both were hard to turn off…highly recommended.
Read:
The Legacy by Paul Lederer. I normally don’t go for reading westerns (Steve Hockensmith’s Holmes on the Range series was a pleasant surprise for me), but found this to be well written with good pacing (it is a concise, quick read) and not a dull moment. I’ve read a few other books by Lederer, and they didn’t disappoint either. (Knock on wood that I didn’t just jinx myself with future readings of his work.)
Also read The Ghost Kings by H. Rider Haggard. It was interesting for a while, but … I’m not a fan of fantasy. And the ending was meh.
Currently reading The Red Lamp by Mary Roberts Rinehart. It’s taking longer to read with its slow pacing (definitely a change from Lederer’s The Legacy), but I’m wondering what is going on and how will it end?!
Thanks @Lisa_B3 . These are all three outside my awareness so I’m off to learn more about them.
I’ll preface this by saying I typically read a mix of escapist chick-lit, mysteries and literary fiction.
I finished The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea on 6/7 which I thought was a little less than average.
On 6/9 I finished Once in a Blue Moon by Kristan Higgins, which I would not have bothered with if I’d figured out it was a novella. Definitely not enough time to fully develop the story.
Next I read The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave. Not terrible for a sequel but more of the same.
Now I’m reading Good People by Patmeena Sabit. Finally a book I can sink my teeth into. I’m 3/4s of the way through it.
I’ve been wondering about reading Good People. A lot of people seem to really like it.
Last week I finished the third and perhaps final book in the Cal Hooper series: “The Keeper.” Tana French has been one of my favorite authors for quite a while. She weaves a complex world of intrigue, lies, old and new relationships - all in a small, interconnected Irish town.
This week I’m reading and enjoying another favorite author, Jane Harper. “Last One Out” depicts a town overtaken by mining and a family broken by the disappearance of their son on his 21st birthday. It’s a sad tale, and I’m hoping the resolution gives some uplift. I’m also trying to read in audio “The God of Small Things” by Roy. I haven’t been able to stick with it because the rolling backstories have stopped me in my tracks.
I’m reading it for my book club and I think it’s a good choice for that because there will be lots to discuss. It’s keeping my interest. My advice if you read it is to not focus on the names and pronunciation of all the characters except the family. They way it’s written you don’t discover there names immediately. I heard an interview with the author on Fresh Aire (a radio program on my local pbs station. You can listen to it online if you are interested)
Thanks for these insights @Sharon_G. It’s good to know that it might make a good book club choice.
Rindo’s book was so much more than I expected! I was first drawn to it because we live in Ohio near the largest Amish community in the state and I was interested to see how they were portrayed. The story grabbed me from the start and I kept right on loving it to the emotional end. For me, it was a 5-star read.
Thanks so much @Holly_K. I love a rave review. I bought it as an audio during a two-for-one sale the other day. Now I’m looking forward to getting to it. I really appreciate you posting your thoughts.
I finished Vigil by George Saunders. Loved it.
Also finished Whistler by Ann Patchett. It was a fast read and I enjoyed it. When the main character’s stepfather says he had communicated after a long time with the main character’s mother (his ex), my favorite sentences were “Your mother and I both have a small shard of glass in our hearts where the other is concerned: her disappointment, my shame, her regret and my regret. This helps to pry it loose. All these years later, you can still pry something loose. There’s no sense carrying shame and regret into the next life.”
More wonderful book recommendations (as usual) - thank you, everyone!
I read The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki for a book club discussion in a couple of days. When you need a lighthearted and quick read, this is a great choice! (And bonus for me are cat characters.)
And, I started A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys. I’ve been meaning to read one of the author’s publications and I was drawn to this one because of the Detroit history (set in the late 1920’s). I’m about half way through.
I’ve just finished The One Day Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh, Red Belly Crossing by Candace Fox, and The Night Hunter by Natalie Moss (ARC). Really enjoyed all three books.
Now, I’m reading Yesteryear, which has received a lot of hype; however, I’m bored with it and think it is disjointed. I’m hoping it gets better.
Loved this book! Read it as e book, so don’t know about audio
Talking about Life and Death and Gians
I just finished reading Calamity Club in one week. I could not put it down. The humor sometimes came out of nowhere - made me laugh out loud! The story was fun but also sad. It was the best book I’ve read this year.