Monday, January 7, 2013

What are You Reading?

Happy Monday!

Okay - first things first - Do NOT tell me what happened on Downton Abbey last night!  I am going downstairs in about 5 minutes to see for myself!  It feels like Christmas - I am SO excited!

 If you recall, my santa list had a lot of books on it.  I am slowly getting through them all.  Thus far, one book I would highly recommend is Nate Berkus' Things That Matter.

The Things That Matter

A confession - I did not care much for Nate's first book, Home Rules, though I love Nate to pieces.  I found it too "before and after" if you know what I mean, and though he talked about rules, they were somtimes not clear or at least not relatable to me and my life.  For me, the best decor book about rules, bar none is The Perfectly Imperfect Home by Deborah Needleman. 

Nate's new book is different.  He uses examples from his own life, and tragedies, and spends a lot of time explaining why we need things that matter around us and how to take those things and use them to their best advantage.  And it is wonderfully written, especially when he describes his Tsunami experience and losing his partner Fernando.  The rest of the book is filled with chapters about other people and their "things that matter" and it is a beautiful, thoughtful book.  Well done Nate!  I think I may do my own Things That Matter Post in the next couple of days, he has so inpsired me!

But before I go on to read my other books, I was stopped short, having found out that the incomparable Tana French had a new novel out and that I had somehow missed that!  Well I have missed a lot recently, should I be surprised?

Who is Tana French?  Her website says: 

Tana French grew up in Ireland, Italy, the US and Malawi, and has lived in Dublin since 1990. She trained as a professional actress at Trinity College, Dublin, and has worked in theatre, film and voiceover.

I say: she is one of the most amazing storytellers I have come across in years!

These are murder mysteries and the protaganists in each story are various members of the Dublin Murder Squad.  The dialogue is so good you feel like you have just stepped into the world of an Irish cop.  And then the story sucks you in.  The neat thing is that various characters appear to varying degrees in the books - one character may have a very minor role in one book, only to be the lead in another.

I recommend that you read them in the order they have been written:

In the Woods


 
The Likeness: A Novel

Faithful Place: A Novel

And finally, the one I am halfway through and cannot put down (except to go see the Crawleys!):

Broken Harbor: A Novel (Dublin Murder Squad)


They are all available at Amazon and are so worth a read!  Have you read any of these?  I was especially thinking of you FFM, as I know you love your mysteries!

Today, after I am up to date with Downton Abbey, I will clean and take down the Christmas Tree.  Our whole house needs a good going over and I think that some good strenous housework is just what the doctor ordered! 

What are your plans today?



22 comments:

  1. I read "In the woods" and I loved it, bought "The likeness" but haven't read it yet (I have been taking it with me on every vacation but for some reason never got around to read it, there was always some other book more appealing. Maybe I should get the nrw one to motivate myself, I like "fresh crops", when a book gets all dusty I loose interest). If you like thrillers you must have read "Gone Girl" for sure? I am going to read "Sharp objects" from the same author next.
    I just started "Where'd you go, Bernadette" and it is very entertaining!

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    1. My plans for today involved my favoritr gym class, some cleaning and ironing and possibly a mani-pedi but my daughter is home sick so I am stuck at home.

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    2. Hi Ema! I have not read Gone Girl! Am definitely adding that to the list! I am really anjoying reading for pleasure, not simply briefs and reports! It;s like taking a holiday! I though The Likeness was grand, but Faithful Place was brilliant - it really captured a part of Ireland I thought!

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    3. I forgot to mention (how could I forget) that I "almost" picked up Andrew McCarthy book yesterday (The long way home or something like that), the cover was inviting and it looked promising (a man's point of view on relationships). Plus, since I bump into him every other day I think I should know a little bit more about him (although the risk is that I fall in love with the character via book and then start to stalk him for real)! But then I remembered that I NEVER finished a memoir in my life (not even Joan Didion's "A year of magical thinking" that I actually loved for as long as I read it).

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  2. Hi WMM, I think I would like those books very much, I'm also into mysteries and detective fiction. One of my favourite authors is Ian Rankin - his books are set in Edinburgh (I got the latest for Christmas).
    I just finished reading V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton. I love how each book is set only a few days or weeks or months after the last, and that the main character does all her sleuthing without the internet or even cell phones.
    We took the tree down yesterday, today I'll just be packing away the boxes and doing the floors. Hubby and I will watch Downton on Friday, when he has more time in the evening. Doesn't matter - I kind of know what's been happening, so no real surprises. Enjoy your day!

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    1. Oh he sounds good! I like Sue Grafton as well! I am still getting to the tree - got sidetracked! I think that is a sign of being tired - too scattered!

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  3. Gym at 7.00am then off for a country romp!
    Patricia, Ian Rankin is a really decent guy and very funny!

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    1. Good for you!

      ANd hope you say that about me when I get published!

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    2. She'll be doing your back cover "puff" (review) and yes, publishers call 'em that.

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    3. Tabitha - have you met him? I love the books also because one of my best friends was a police officer for over 20 years. I was often around her friends and colleagues at parties and such and I get the bits of humour in the books.

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    4. GF! DO you think Tabs as written puff? Patricia, I think I like them too given my husband's former occupation!

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  4. Hi WMM, don't know much about your Nate (surprisingly). But do like that he seems grounded in collecting a sense of home over time and using what you have to best advantage. Must explore.
    Since Irish writers appear to be a bit of a theme, aside from Rankin's Rebus, I'd reco John Connolly and "Every Dead Thing", a rather brilliant mix of PI and horror, but in a not ack way, with a healthy dose of backdrop. For a sunny escape, have you tried Michael Connolly's taut LA-set mysteries with Hieronymous (Harry) Bosch. "Lost Light" best of ones I've airported, but I think there is a whole series.

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    1. Oh, and from my recent appointment hours, think Nate is dating again, some asst. of Rachel Zoe's (get my gossip catch-up at supermarket queue and dentist).

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    2. Hey GF - more things to add to the list! Did not know Nate was dating! I may be able to keep up on my gossip better!

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  5. I can't say I'm intrigued by the Nate Berkus book, but I don't like to read books about self-reflection so no wonder. I seem to have that self-reflection soundtrack running through my head all the time so I prefer reading to be an escape. Maybe Nate means literally "things", though? I could get on board with that, although anything that involves decorating instantly overwhelms me.

    The Tana French books sound very interesting and I think I will try them. I haven't done much reading lately, I have been too restless. I used to be an avid reader, I don't know what happened. I didn't make it through Downton Abbey last night and I will finish it today too. It is a 2 hour premiere so clear your schedule!

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    1. Hey Cate - he really means things - it is really a decorating book! I think the gist of the self-reflection is only surround yourself by meaning and don't be embarassed if your stuff is goofy. works for me!

      I just finished Downton Abbey and I am in love with Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith - they had me howling!

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  6. Have you watched it yet? I stayed up to watch it last night, I'd love to know what you think, I won't tell you my views until I know you've seen it.
    Right now I'm reading "Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Lustre", a non-fiction book about the luxury and fashion industries. It is fascinating and I don't normally go in for much non-fiction. A good friend gave it to me and I have her to thank!
    Next I have to read a book club book, hmph I hate being in a book club, I never ever want to read the books, I have so many I want to get to anyway. I read Gone Girl and didn't like it, but I'm in the minority there. I might read Tana French!
    I cleaned the third floor this morning then did an hour of fairly difficult exercise so now I'm whacked. Off to the grocery store now in the piles of snow we have here, I just might be able to cross country ski this week, yay!
    Have a great day darling.

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    1. Well I just got the tree packed away! Spent 2 hours looking for a document this morning - ring a bell with you Dani - I think I swore a blue streak! I was all alone and it was okay and eventually found it!

      I enjoyed Downton Abbey - especially the grand dames. They need to wrap some of these stories up and go on to new ones or it will be a long season! Give me more Shirley and Maggie!

      But - the clothese were exquisite last night! I wanted Lady Mary's "going away" suit!

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    2. WMM the clothes were exquisite as was the scenery but the story lines and some of the dialogue was boring me to tears! I was irritating MrBP with my cheap-seat comments such as "I hate Lady Mary!" "no real person would say that!" and "let's move it on people!" Could be I was just crabbier than usual.
      My files are still out of order, I have a month's work getting things sorted now that our renovations are done.

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    3. I agree! I thought she was a bit of a pill!

      They need to pick up the pace!

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  7. Hi WMM! Thank you for the reading recommendations from Tana French! They do sound like something I will love, so I will definitely be giving them a try (in order, as you suggested, of course).

    I did watch the entire 2 hours of Downton Abbey last night, and agree that they need to pick up the pace a bit. Still, I am very glad that series 3 is finally here, and I'm looking forward to next week's episode. I always love the clothes and Lady Grantham is by far my favorite character on the show. :)

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    1. I think you will really like them. I love the clothes as well. I taped an episode of the Vicar of Dibley on the weekend to give it a try!

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