What is the last book you read, and your rating?

[Karen0823]

I just finished reading Keys to Tetouan. It was tough to get through. I thought I would expand my horizons by reading a historical account but in hindsight, this was not a good place to start. I found it difficult to concentrate due to the author's run-on sentences and poor grammar. A lot of the historical content was over my head. History was never my best subject!

[RegularGuy3]

Mining for Alaskan Adventures by Rose Rybachek. I gave it 4 out of 4 stars in my review for this site. Really enjoyed it on many levels.

[Redlegs]

The Doubleman by Christopher Koch, which was awarded the Miles Franklin prize in 1985, is a fine example the author's talent, and yet it didn't quite measure up to his later 1996 Miles Franklin award winner, Highways To a War, set in the killing fields of Vietnam and Cambodia, which had me riveted from first to last.

The Doubleman contains elements of Koch's own life - his upbringing in the post-war streets of Hobart, Tasmania and his career as a radio producer with Australia's national broadcaster.

The novel begins with great promise, introducing the narrator, Richard Miller, then a young boy overcoming the effects of a bout of polio, which left him with a limp. We soon meet, on the cold and gloomy streets, the enigmatic and mysterious Clive Broderick, whose pivotal role in the novel is, dealt with all too briefly. We also quickly get to know Brian Brady, Richard's cousin, and the manipulative, occasionally manic, Darcy Burr. Broderick teaches Brady and Burr to play guitar, inculcating in them a desire to make their living from playing music.

As a young man. Richard Miller leaves Tasmania, first seeking work first in Melbourne, and then in Sydney, where the opportunities are greater. He gains employment as a producer of radio and television programs, meets his future wife, Katrin, a post-war refugee from Estonia, and becomes re-acquainted with Brady and Burr, who are now part of a reasonably successful band.

And so is created Thomas and the Rymers, featuring Brady, Burr and Katrin, produced by Richard, and playing a new brand of electric folk and fairy music.Swift success is inevitably followed by disintegration, as ambition, the influence of drugs and the other baggage that comes with success and commercial realities take a harmful toll on all concerned.

Koch has managed to incorporate a number of themes into this intelligent novel, including the music of the 1960s, elements of the occult, post-war European migration to Australia, and the coming-of-age tale of a young man guided by a beautiful but lonely older woman (Deidre), the trophy wife of a rich man.

After a very promising start, the middle section drifted a little and the ending lacked coherence and satisfaction. I had expected Broderick to play a much larger role in the narrative, but he was relegated to a background influence.

Notwithstanding my criticisms, this is still a really good novel and definitely worth taking the time to read.

4 stars out of 5

[Gravy]

Fat Girl by Judith Moore.
It was okay, but I'm not really a fan of it. Rated it a 2 out of 4.

[Gifty Naa Akushia]

The last book I read was Who told you that you were naked?by William E Combs and I rate it 3 out of 4 stars

[Londera]

The Crown:4/5
It was a great ending to the Selection series. It felt a bit rushed though.

[Fran]

I read a couple of excellent books in the last couple of weeks:
God Help The Child by Toni Morrison
Lolly Willowes or The Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
all equally brilliant in their different ways and all getting 4/4*

[Basya]

American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee. 4 stars. A nonfiction title that reads like a good novel.

[Nix-the-ever-knowing]

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Rating: 4.5/5
It's the author's first book and I am already a fan. Can't wait for the next one.

[Ana Njeri]

My trip to Adele and I give it a rating of 3out of 4

[Sparkles609]

Last book I read was My trip to Adele by two Authors the Alyaseers and It was amazing, I gave it a 4 out of 4 stars.

[Gravy]

Finished Grave Memory by Kalayna Price.
The third installment in her Alex Craft urban fantasy series. I really enjoyed it (been needing some good urban fantasy). Rated it a 3 out of 4.

[BoyLazy]

It's a cute one about puffy a cat. ?
Puffy and the formidable foe was the name.
I rated it as 3 out of 4.

[cheese_lover]

I recently read "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart. It was an interesting concept that was executed in a unique way. I give it an 8/10.

[BoyLazy]

I recently read "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart. It was an interesting concept that was executed in a unique way. I give it an 8/10.

We were liars is an interesting title. Sure it has a lot of thought behind it.