At bookcoasters, we chat about many books in Favourite Reads, but we want to highlight one book per month as a great experience that we think you’ll enjoy sharing with us, and with the other users of the site.
So, we’d like you to share your ideas for books that deserve the spotlight.
Is there a book you want to discuss? You don’t need to lead the discussion by posting, although you can, if you like. 8)
Added later: I’ve just come from a different book site, and was really annoyed by their take on what’s worthy to be read by a book club. So here’s our take, just to be clear:
If you loved it: you loved it. That’s all that matters.
I recently read and enjoyed Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin. It is the story of a yound Irish girl who, encouraged by the local priest and her older sister, leaves her village and migrates to the US. The priest arranges for her to board, along with other girls, with an Irish woman in Brookly; and helps her to get a job in a store.
Toibin describes the incredible loneliness that she feels being so far away from her family and village as she struggles to adapt to the new land. Having been an immigrant myself I could really relate to this.
Her life and prospects look up when she starts night school, and then meets a young Italian at a dance. Being busy and in love helps her overcome her sadness; but then she is called to return to Ireland and her real dilemmas arise.
Colm writes in a deceptively simple style, yet finishes the tale in such a way that I could not stop thinking about it for days. So many of the choices that we make in life are made under the directives of others or by chance; yet they lead us along a very particular path. And had we not taken that path, our lives could have been completely different. This book is about those turning points and I found it fascinating.
I loved it too. I think he is such a good writer. He understands human nature so well. It made me want to read his other books too.
It sounds like a winner!
Thanks for this recommendation, Eril. We’ve decided to schedule ‘Brooklyn’ as the book coasters book of the month in February 2010 – I’m looking forward to some good discussion on this one: it sounds great.
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Bek has just posted some books which her book groups at Nerang have loved over here.
If you like the look of any of them, please say, because otherwise you may just get whatever various librarians like. Now, we know books, and have excellent taste, but one of loupie’s main jobs is to tell me to be sensible when I suggest some of the stuff I’d otherwise suggest.
I, personally, would love any of the following:
* From the dust returned, or Dandelion wine, or anything by Ray Bradbury. The man’s a genius and I’d like to introduce those of you who haven’t met him to his innate fantasticness.
* Contract with God by Wil Eisner. It will change the way you look at comic books forever. It has no superheroes, for one thing.
* Lake Wobegon Days. Because Garrison Keilor is brilliantly incisive and funny, in a melancholy way.
* Dune, because we haven’t had any classic science fiction yet, and this is just the business.
…but I’m a librarian, so I don’t get a vote. We’d love to hear from you! We need lots of books you’ll love to read, and love to talk about, to plan for monthly reads and to design some of our upcoming events (which are so hush hush I’m not even sure they are happening, but watch this blog, eh?)
Although, if you just want to say “That Timothy is a man of incredible discernment, let’s just read his suggestions.” I can’t say I’d hate that.
Over here:
http://gcbooks.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/readers-rendezvous-recommendations/#comment-526
a contributor suggested The kite runner, and it looks like it will be our June book, lacking objections or special events.
Australian author Steven Carroll’s book The Lost Life is a moving novel about poetry and inspiration, the incandescence of first love and the yearning for a life that may never be lived.
Another great book is the Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney which won the2006 Costa book of the year.
‘We felt enveloped in the snowy landscape and gripped by the beautiful writing and effortless storytelling.It is a story of love,suspense and beauty. We could not put it down.’ Costa Judges
Mary Barton by Mrs.Gakell. An extraordinary novel of how the rich treated the less fortunate in 19thC England. Mrs. Gaskell’s insight into human nature of the times is exceptional. Better than Dickens? You decide…
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. This is a heart-warming novel, especially for women. Its about Liz (the author herself) after she underwent a horrible divorce; thus she wanted to do some soul searching, she first went to Italy simply because she wanted to learn Italian and eat beautiful Italian food; then to India to visit an Ashram to practice her yoga and meditation, and get inner peace and then to Indonesia (Bali) to learn the old teachings from a medicine man. You might already know about the movie, but the book is simply always the best, it is a true soul searching novel…I found it a beautiful read! But you decide for yourself !!
Before the Poison by Peter Robinson. Peter writes his books in Yorkshire and has written a successful series of stories about DI Alan Banks. But this story is completely different, a stand alone story about a man Chris Lowndes who is a Yorkshireman returning to his land of birth after 30 odd years in LA working as a score writer for movies, after losing his wife to cancer. He buys a old house that had been owned by a Doctor and his wife Grace Fox, then rented for many years. The Doctor dies of a heart attack in the middle of a very heavy snow storm at New Year; but later Grace is accused of his murder, tried and hung without ever speaking of the events or defending herself. Chris is fascinated by this woman and tries to find out the truth about her life and the events leading up to her husband’s death. I loved this story; it was very much like some of Robert Goddard’s stories with historic events being uncovered by someone in the current time, with twists and turns. See what you think!
I have just finished reading “Before the Poison” and loved it. There were so many interesting twists in the story. You may remember in the diary of Grace Fox she discusses her time during the war. The nurses and wounded soldiers were evacuated from Singapore, the hospital ship was sunk and they had to swim to Banka Island. The Japanese separated the men by driving them around a point in the island, drove them into the water and machine gunned them and then went back and machine gunned the women. I have forgotten how many survived. This story was taken from the true story of the 65 Australian Army nurses who boarded a coastal freighter, which was sunk and who were washed up on Radji Beach; there was one survivor, Vivian Bullwinkel. My interest was tweaked and I am reading “On Radji Beach” by Ian W. Shaw available through the library.
Hi Estelle,
Thank you for the above suggestions; such valuable and insightful reads. You may also enjoy ‘White Coolies’ by Betty Jeffrey. Betty was one of the thirty-two nursing sisters who survived the machine guns and then endured more than three years in the Sumatran jungle as prisoners of the Japanese. Betty kept a diary and this book became the movie ‘Paradise Road.’
‘The Shoe-horn Sonata’ is a play written by John Misto, based on similar events. A haunting and revealing read, I loved it so much I found the play on cassette tape (not from Gold Coast Libraries). This story sheds light on these forgotten victims of war and is part of the HSC. All of the above are available from Gold Coast Libraries.
Can I just also recommend Paradise Road? It’s a story with real heart to it.
Hi Katrina and Timothy
I just have seen your post and recommendation for “Paradise Road”. Thank you. I will read it and “White Coolies”. I feel a bit like Hansel and Gretel since joining the site. I find one good book, leads me on to another, and another, and another…it is great.
Hi Estelle! “Paradise Road” and “White Coolies” are the same book. After the movie the publisher changed the title.
It is rather cool how one book leads to another. 8)
This sounds excellent, thanks CJ!
I shall have to put a hold on it, because all of the library copies are currently on loan.
Can’t wait
If you’re looking for a good read, try People of the World, by Shareef Ali Rashada. I may be biased because I’m the author, but I promise a unique and rewarding experience. If you don’t see it at your local library, just ask them to order it, as it available thru Ingram, amazon.com, or lulu.com
Thanks Shareef. I suppose this post is about sharing your great book, so the fact that this one is literally yours is cool. And we’re OK with bias – as long as it’s disclosed
Best of all, Gold Coast Libraries do have copies of your book, so any library members interested in trying People of the World can follow the link and put a copy on hold.