What is the last book you read, and your rating?
- LivreAmour217
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: 02 Oct 2014, 12:42
- Favorite Book: Ditto
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 294
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-livreamour217.html
- Latest Review: Island Games by Caleb J. Boyer
Re: What is the last book you read, and your rating?
- Written Legalist
- Posts: 19
- Joined: 29 Nov 2017, 04:51
- Currently Reading: Gone Girl
- Bookshelf Size: 13
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-written-legalist.html
- Latest Review: "Heaven and Earth" by Arturo Riojas
- Redlegs
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2144
- Joined: 12 Jan 2012, 05:08
- Favorite Book: Lord of the Rings
- Bookshelf Size: 300
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-redlegs.html
They have been brought together here in a small anthology loosely based on a theme of turbulent weather, but covering a wide variety of situations. Most have more to do with human relationships than the weather.
Some I really enjoyed, and others just left me wondering. There were a few really neat surprises, however.
As always, Turner Hospital writes with elegance and wit - she is indeed a fine prose writer. But I was left feeling a little deflated and wanting something more for my money. Right on the borderline between 3.5 and 4 stars out of 5.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
- ixora
- Posts: 42
- Joined: 19 Oct 2017, 07:33
- Bookshelf Size: 39
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ixora.html
- Latest Review: "Health Tips, Myths, and Tricks" by Morton E Tavel, MD
- Amystl26
- Posts: 224
- Joined: 17 Oct 2017, 08:49
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 64
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amystl26.html
- Latest Review: The Sparrow by Denna M. Davis
I also finished a book from here called Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles. Unfortunately, this one got a 2/4 stars. The only reason it got two and not one was because it was nominated for a writing award two years in a row so I figured people out there did enjoy it and other might as well. I, however, found it to be a distinguished idea for a plot, but not organized with it's delivery. I have some other reviews of Coles' work on the website, so I will give one of those a try! Just out of curiosity...
Happy reading!
- DPrevost
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 18 Nov 2017, 14:25
- Bookshelf Size: 10
- Rosemary Wright
- Bookshelves Moderator
- Posts: 847
- Joined: 14 Nov 2017, 03:06
- Favorite Book: Spanky
- Currently Reading: Culture Man
- Bookshelf Size: 689
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rosemary-wright.html
- Latest Review: Gods Whisper Always Near by Sharon Williams
- Reading Device: Android
- MarvtheMartian
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 13 Dec 2017, 15:07
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Redlegs
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2144
- Joined: 12 Jan 2012, 05:08
- Favorite Book: Lord of the Rings
- Bookshelf Size: 300
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-redlegs.html
His days are spend in bed or lazing around the house, attended by faithful servants, friends and landlords, while Oblomov oscillates between periods of good intentions and apathy, without ever actually taking action. His friends are persistent in their encouragement and caring attention, because, despite his lethargy, Oblomov is, at heart, a genial and friendly fellow.
Even when Olga, an eligible young woman, is attracted to Ilya, and he returns her affections, he is consumed by doubts and apathy, until he eventually loses her, and she marries one of his best friends.
Behind the human story of Oblomov and his family and social cohort, Goncharov has written a parody of Russian society. Oblomov is representative of Goncharov's opinion of the Russian nobility and its reluctance and inability to drive the necessary changes required to modernize and stimulate the country. Goncharov also takes aim at serfdom and the peasant class, with their ancient folklore, superstitions and general apathy towards progress.
This is a fine example of mid 19th century Russian literature, written with wit, warmth and a lively style.
4 stars out of 5
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
- Gravy
- Gravymaster of Bookshelves
- Posts: 39044
- Joined: 27 Aug 2014, 02:02
- Favorite Book: As many as there are stars in the sky
- Currently Reading: The Ghost Tree
- Bookshelf Size: 1027
What is grief, if not love persevering?
Grief is just love with no place to go.
- gali
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 53652
- Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:12
- Currently Reading: The Suite Life
- Bookshelf Size: 2287
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-gali.html
- Reading Device: B00I15SB16
- Publishing Contest Votes: 0
Pronouns: She/Her
"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." (Mortimer J. Adler)
- Redlegs
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2144
- Joined: 12 Jan 2012, 05:08
- Favorite Book: Lord of the Rings
- Bookshelf Size: 300
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-redlegs.html
The quiet American of the title is Alden Pyle, a naïve and inexperienced young man who is an agent of the American government sent to covertly interfere in local politics and power factions.
The story is narrated by Thomas Fowler, an older crusty English journalist, who has been in the east for a considerable time and is more than reluctant to be sent back to England to resume his failed marriage with his religiously devout wife.
Of common interest to the two men is Phuong, a beautiful, placid and accommodating young local woman, who lives in an affectionate relationship with Fowler, but with whom Pyle falls in love and wants to marry.
The backdrop to this strange love triangle is the fractured and deteriorating political situation in colonial Vietnam. At this time, the French are the colonial masters, but they are losing control and some interest. Skirmishes that are escalating towards all out war have broken out between the communist forces of the north (Viet Minh) and those of the south still more loyal to their French masters.
The Americans, with their deep-seated paranoia of communism, are seeking to gain a foothold, to influence the local dynamics of power, believing that, as a Third Force that is not an occupying power, they can prevent the spread scourge of Chinese communist influence through the region.
Greene's writing, as always, is subtle and finely nuanced, as he combines the personal and the political, never quite taking sides through the voice of Fowler, but writing as a keen observer who nevertheless has opinions. Greene prefers not to deal in black and white but in interminable shades of grey.
The narrative moves easily backwards and forwards in time, although it covers a relatively short period of time overall. But it is cleverly and intelligently structured and always in complete control.
Personally, I think this is one of Greene' finest novels. I'm giving it 4.5 stars out of 5.
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
- Scolletapie
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 25 Nov 2017, 07:07
- Bookshelf Size: 14
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-scolletapie.html
- Latest Review: "Heartaches" by H.M. Irwing
- Vadimbys
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 15 Dec 2017, 04:39
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Dolor
- Posts: 2333
- Joined: 07 Nov 2017, 14:41
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 12473
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-dolor.html
- Latest Review: The Center of Gravity by Patricia Brandon
- Reading Device: 1400697484
3 out of 4 stars