February's reads

From bottom:
Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha - ok
Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn - took off rather slowly, but eventually ok
George R. Stewart's Earth Abides - some points to consider, some questions to ask. A good book to read, especially in these times.
Did anyone read "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers? It was a title I had to put down. And I wondered if anyone had read that and what was an opinion.

[Diana]

I read the bottom one and enjoyed it, especially after living in Japan for 10 years! We had the pleasure of meeting Geishas on numerous occasions ;-)

[moni kozi]

@ludwigsdiana Whoa! And does the book reflect reality? Or is it all made up and fantasy?

[Kathy A]

I have read the Geisha one too and enjoyed it from memory. I have also read a book by Kate Atkinson although not this title. I haven’t read the Dave Eggers book.

[moni kozi]

@kjarn I think it was in your reads that I saw Atkinson. And I just read what I found at the local library.

[JackieR]

I like Atkinson's earlier works, less keen on her latest stuff, read Memoirs a long time ago, will look for others in the library this afternoon on your recommendation

[Julie Duncan]

Have read Earth Abides a couple of times. Very interesting how "civilization" returns to earth. Haven't read the others. I do like Richard Matheson's I Am Legend, too. Octavia Butler is one of my favorite authors - I've read nearly all of her books several times. :)

[Boxplayer]

No idea about Dave Eggers but I love Kate Atkinson.

[moni kozi]

@juliedduncan Yes, the insights are quite challenging. I was especially hooked on how we compare other people's feelings from our perspective: the new generation's happiness through the filter of the civilisation they have not even known.
I will look those author up. Thanks for the suggestions.

[moni kozi]

@30pics4jackiesdiamond @boxplayer Atkinson is a revelation to me. I am currently reading another of her books that has noting to do with the first one.

[Mags]

Looking like very interesting reads!

[Krista Marson]

agh, "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius." I recently tried reading that book, but eventually gave up doing so. I might have liked it better if I was a teenager. I know that I swear a lot, but Dave Eggers really but my "colorful" vocabulary to shame. A better book to read in that genre is "A Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger.

[moni kozi]

@blueberry1222 I read The Catcher as a teenager. It was part of our high-school curriculum. I can't remember much now. And it is on my list to be re-read. Its time will come.
So I shall not be sorry for putting Eggers aside.

[moni kozi]

@marlboromaam Yes, they were rather interesting and so varied as genres.

[Sally Ings]

I'm not sure that I have seen anything written by Atkinson. I shall have to look her up. Over the last year or so I've been trying to break away from my usual genre and authors. Have found some really good books but equally as many that were just trash

[moni kozi]

@salza Well, books preferences really are something personal. And tastes differ so much. I do not have a preferred author or genre. I mean, I enjoy investigation literature very much. But my readings are quite varied.
One author from which I delighted in three titles is Fredrik Backman (Ove, My Grandmother... and Things my son...). Very prolific author, but I thought that 3 titles were enough. A Man Called Ove is probably one of my favourite books ever.
As for Atkinson, the one featured in February is an investigation novel. But the title i'm currently reading (Life After Life) is totally unexpected (I expected another investigation novel).
Books, for me, fall into 2 categories: books worth reading, and books for which life is too short to waste it reading them.

[Pyrrhula]

Great shot of the books

[bkb in the city]

Nice shot

[Yao RL]

I like how you lead the discussion.

[Newbank Lass]

@monikozi @salza To mix up my reading the last 18 months I have started reading around the world. With the aim to read a book based in/written by each county of the world. I am 31 countries in and have read stuff I never would normally choose. Its been really good.

[moni kozi]

Thank you very much, @pyrrhula @bkbinthecity and @yaorenliu

[moni kozi]

@newbank wow! I've heard of that criterion for selecting reads, but I did not embark on it. Maybe one day...
My readings are quite random, frankly.
But thank you so much for getting into the discussion.

[Sally Ings]

@newbank wow, that's quite a challenge. Something to add to the bucket list. I've recently read a few books that although are fictional, they are based on fact and describe places that are instantly recognisable if you have been there.