You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

I saw this topic in another group and it was really interesting. Which books have you given 5 stars to recently?

My most recent have been

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,Lisa See
Wild Swans Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang
The Book Thief, Markus Zusak

I'm quite stingy when it comes to 5 star ratings!

My most reacent have been:

Mistress A Novel, Anita Nair
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
The Princess Bride, William Goldman
The Dice Man, Luke Rhinehart

I haven't given any lately, but some of the books that have earned that rating from me include:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (my all time favorite and the only book I've ever read more than once)
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Lucky by Alice Sebold
On The Road by Jack Kerouac
The Risk Pool by Richard Russo
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (from childhood)

I need to read another five-star book soon!!!!

The Assist Hoops, Hope, and the Game of Their Lives was the last 5 star rating I gave out. I'm pretty stingy with my stars.

I'm pretty stingy as well. Most of my books get a three or a four--I've only given one book a one...I, too, gave The Book Thief five stars, but recently--

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
Sharpe's Triumph
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Uncle Tom's Cabin

1. A Prayer for Owen Meaney
2. Crazy in Alabama
3. Fifth Business
4. Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer
5. The White Tiger

Anne, I agree on The Book Thief!

I just read Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani and I was surprised by how much I loved it/the writing - I gave that 5 stars recently and I definitely recommend her!

The most recent is Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I loved it! I'm currently reading book 2 in the series, Dragonfly in Amber

Brenda wrote: "1. A Prayer for Owen Meaney
2. Crazy in Alabama
3. Fifth Business
4. Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer
5. The White Tiger"

Brenda, Ahab's Wife is a favorite of mine. I, also, enjoyed Sena Jeter Naslund's book featuring Marie Antoinette--Abundance A Novel of Marie Antoinette. I want to read her novel, Four Spirits sometime this year.

Kathy,

I LOVED Outlander!! I resisted reading it for a long time because I'm not really into "romance books" and I had a preconception that that is what it was. I am so glad I got over it and just read it. I have the rest of the books in the series and need to get started on them!

Jaime wrote: "Kathy,

I LOVED Outlander!! I resisted reading it for a long time because I'm not really into "romance books" and I had a preconception that that is what it was. I am so glad I got over it and ..."

Jaime, I had a prejudice against romance books, too, but after reading Outlander, I think we can safely categorize it as historical fiction, too. Of course, like you I think that I have learned a valuable lesson in getting over my preconception about romances.

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)
by Scott Lynch....This book it great! Its hard to believe that its his debut novel!

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, and I, Claudius by Rupert Graves. The former I finished yesterday, and the latter I read a good three or four years ago. Its a bit hazy, but the impact was indelible. Romans doing what Romans do best, living lives without boundaries. The Count of Monte Cristo is perhaps the best book I have read in a long, long, long time. 1100 pages of unadulterated brilliance.

The Night Birdsby Thomas Maltman
Reading in the Dark A Novel by Seamus
Deane
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich
Maria Remarque
The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy

Jaime wrote: "I haven't given any lately, but some of the books that have earned that rating from me include:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (my all time favorite and the only book I've ever read mor..."

I loved that book too, I was wondering what you thought of The Hour I first Believed. I really enjoyed She's Come Undone and I Know this Much is True. But haven't heard much about The Hour. Any thoughts?

Jamie and Kathy: I tried to like Outlander (years ago) I really tried. Is it really worth trying again? So many people have given it to me (because they know I like to read) and it has been a favourite of theirs. Everyone I know loves this book. Is it worth trying again? I just found the beginning hard to get through, but does it get better farther along?

Brenda,

I would definitely try it again. I remember the first part being slow. It gets much better!!

I loved both of Wally Lamb's first books. I liked The Hour I First Believed A Novel too, but not as much as the first two. There were slow parts and I didn't feel as much connection to the characters.

I don't give many 5 stars either (I don't think). I agree with Snow flower and the secret fan others include:
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson (mountaineering true)
Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
No Great Mischief by Alistair McLeod
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Dirt Music by Tim Winton; and
The Echo Maker by Richard Powers

That's it out of my entire list (to date!)

Brenda wrote: "Jamie and Kathy: I tried to like Outlander (years ago) I really tried. Is it really worth trying again? So many people have given it to me (because they know I like to read) and it has been a fav..."

Well, I'm finishing up #5, The Fiery Cross this weekend, and for the most part I've really enjoyed the series. Dragonfly in Amber and the first part of The Fiery Cross are the two slowest flowing for me. I just want to know what happens with the characters that I've come to know, so I keep reading. It is quite a commitment though. I would give it another try if I were you, but if you plan on reading them straight through, make sure you have at least a couple of months to devote to them. I'm going to take a break between #5 and #6, as I have some reading for an upcoming book fest to do.

Shannon wrote: "I don't give many 5 stars either (I don't think). I agree with Snow flower and the secret fan others include:
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson (mountaineering true)
Secret Life of Bees by Sue M..."

I agree, Touching the Void The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival was awesome. But I'm a sucker for those kinds of tales. My most recent 5 star was the last book I finished - The Book of Lost Things. Such fun!

Molly the book of lost things is one of my favorite books.I would love to read another book similar to it but have yet to find one.

Ditto Kipahni! If you ever find one that is comparable, let me know, please!!

Heather wrote: "Ditto Kipahni! If you ever find one that is comparable, let me know, please!!"

What about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? It came up as a book often read by people who liked The Book of Lost Things. Sounds interesting.

Lately my five star reads have been Graceling, Bones of Faerie and The Goose Girl! They were all really good. I also liked The Hero and the Crown.

Molly - I've read it. It's not really at all like The Book of Lost Things. Not nearly as much....magic? I don't mean hocus pocus bibbidi bobbidi boo kind of magic...I mean the magic of the story...

Heather- I agree, i was reading it back in the states and it was more Jane Austen and history magic, then actual fairy tale.
If Pan's labyrinth was a book that would be closer to book of lost things.

Kipahni wrote: "Heather- I agree, i was reading it back in the states and it was more Jane Austen and history magic, then actual fairy tale.
If Pan's labyrinth was a book that would be closer to book of lost things."

Ah - I had heard that Pan's Labyrinth was very similar in overall concept - I have not yet seen the movie. I didn't know it came from a book - but then again, don't they all?

Heather The Stolen Child by keith donohue looks like something similar, but I have yet to read it myself

Kipahni wrote: "Heather The Stolen Child by keith donohue looks like something similar, but I ..."

Oooo - I like the sound of that one!

I've read the Stolen Child. It is similar in story theme, but not really in the feeling of the book. I just remember the book of lost things touching me in places I had forgotten about. (okay I am just realizing that sounds dirty...but take it in the chaste way I meant).

The Stolen Child is very good though. It's about a boy who is stolen by the changelings of the forest and about his life as a changeling as well as the life of the changeling boy who replaces him. I would give it a look Kipahni.

I think the most recent book I gave 5 stars to was Sarah's Key which I won off of first reads!

My most recent have been

Seventh Daufhter by Gill Sanderson
Reluctant father by Elizabeth Oldfield
The Taxan by Catherine Lanigan

I think the last one was Revolutionary Road, because the writing is so, so gorgeous. It has quite a slow pace so Yates' style is important.

I read Revolutionary Road recently (just before seeing the film) and gave it 5* as well (more than the film) and reviewed it here. Yates is adept at depicting the competitive dynamics of suburbia and picking apart the well-intentioned duplicity within couples, which both causes and prevents further hurt, misunderstanding and deception, and the chasm between thoughts/dreams and actions. I have 3 other Yates to read, but I'm saving them up, so I can intersperse them with other books.

The other 5* one I read recently was Little Boy Lost, which I reviewed here. Exquisite, painful and beautiful.

I just finished [book:The Woman in Black A Ghost Story|37034. It was so atmospheric. It freaked me out a little and I'm still thinking about it today, so I had to give it five stars! I don't want to say why it freaked me out because I would give away a big part of the book, but I will say I can relate to why the townsfolk feared the Woman in Black so much.

If you like The Woman in Black A Ghost Story, why not try The Turn of the Screw, which is a similar sort of understated, old-fashioned spine-chiller.

Just finished Le Bal by our beloved Némirovsky ; I bought it for a couple of quid from a cute little bookshop in Jericho. Its just incredibly good; the most descriptive short stuff I've ever read. I don't know how she condenses a world into so few pages.

C F S R wrote: "If you like The Woman in Black A Ghost Story, why not try The Turn of the S..."</i>

Thanks, C F S R! I will add it to my "to read" list!

I just finished [book:Coraline by Neil Gaiman. It was excellent! Another five-star read!! It reads like a wacky sort of nightmare. It's a fast read too (it is a children's book).

Kathy wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Jamie and Kathy: I tried to like Outlander (years ago) I really tried. Is it really worth trying again? So many people have given it to me (because they know I like to read) and it..."

Just finished Abundance and really liked it. Thanks for the recommendation. Have you read Sandra Gulland's series about Josephine Bonaparte? I think you would like this also - it gives yet another perspective during that time. I'm going to start Outland again, based on your recommendation - now I just have to go find it - it's around here somewhere.

"Kicked Out" by Richard W Hardwick, a wonderful, hilarious, heartbreaking and challenging new novel about 16 year old Danny who ends up in a hostel for homeless young people. I think its even better than Curious Incident, definitely better than Gods Own Country and as good as the best Roddy Doyle - honest. It made me laugh more, it made me cry more and it made me think more - a much longer lasting impression, brilliant

'The Road Back' by Erich Maria Remarque is a kind of sequel to 'All Quiet On The Western Front',and deals with how young men who became hardened soldiers in the WW1 trenches try to adjust to civilian life after the war. Remarque writes with a kind of brutal beauty,and 'The Road Back' is just as movingly shocking as his most famous novel. To be honest,I didn't realise Remarque had written several other novels,all highly acclaimed. I can't recommend 'The Road Back' enough.

Marc wrote: "'The Road Back' by Erich Maria Remarque is a kind of sequel to 'All Quiet On The Western Front',and deals with how young men who became hardened soldiers in the WW1 trenches try to adjust to civili..."

Thank you, Marc. I did not know there was a sequel to All Quiet (isn't that just a great book?). I will look for this one.

Yeah,All Quiet is one of the best books I've ever read,and it took me til '09 to read it! I ordered The Road Back via my local library and ended up with a 1931 edition! Tho' still intact I was worried it might fall apart in my hands! Except for All Quiet I've found that Remarque's other novels are quite expensive,even paperbacks. I've ordered 'Three Comrades',which is set in Germany before WW2 when the nazis were coming to power. Might have to wait a while!

okay heather have another one I found that might be similar in the dark fairy tale way. Coraline by Neil Gaimen.
I have only seen the movie and have yet to read the book but if it is anything like the movie it looks like it's a good'un

A colleague at work is always telling me to try Neil Gaimen. I think it's more young adult, isn't it (not that that's necessarily a bad thing)?

Yes, Coraline is a young adult novel (actually, I would classify it as pre-teen). It's really good and a very fast read. I read it about two weeks ago and really want to watch the movie now! His other books are adult, though. Many people I know rave about American Gods and Anansi Boys. I haven't read them yet myself. Neil Gaiman is a Goodreads author too!

Yes, Anansi Boys is the specific one he raves about. Anyone here read that one?

Kipahni - Sorry hun...I've read it. I've read pretty much everything by Neil Gaiman. Mad Mad Love-age for the Gaiman.

I have read Anansi Boys. It's really good but I highly recommend American Gods before you read Anansi Boys as it is sort of the quasi-sequal of American Gods. Besides, you don't get the true feel for the awesomeness of Mr. Nancy if you haven't read American Gods first.