Gayla, thanks for this. I will be in conversation with Rachel Kapelke-Dale about our first novels on Saturday December 3 at 2 PM Eastern. We're hosted by the Alliance Française in Washington DC. It's a VIRTUAL conversation so everyone please join us. It's free, you just have to register. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ballerinas-the-three-muses-a-book-talk-tickets-460095145967
I've started again with Still Life, but I've also got several other books going that I'm trying to finish before year end. I need to narrow my focus on just a few books at at time, but there are so many that I want to read, I think I have to read them all at once.
With your pending retirement I am guessing we are going to notice EVEN MORE ENERGY toward reading soon enough. Fun to celebrate the new authors and books that became our friends this year. For me, William Kent Krueger has been a joy. Onward to Christmas!
I love Kent's books, I've read the first couple of the Cork O'Connor series and look forward to reading the rest of them. He is also releasing an audiobook next year that I'd like to listen to also. I hope my retirement gives me more time to read more books, plus some bookish travel.
I've heard good things about "The Personal Assistant" and can't wait to read it. I've also heard some discussion about the Louise Penny series on a recent podcast and found out that there was a video series on Amazon Prime. I plan on watching that soon, I hope the Prime series is good but I will also check out some of the books.
And, I love the link to the Book gift boxes you provided. You just made my Christmas shopping easier for "me" and I hope I buy for my friends as well. LOL
Thanks Michele. I love Belle's books and there are several that write like her so I always have lots of suspense/thriller to read when I want one. l haven't watched the Prime series yet, but I've heard many good things about it from true, die hard Gamache fans.
Thanks as always for your book recommendations, Gayla! I’m finding that with so much frightening and depressing news shaking us up on a daily basis, all I really want is escapist, feel-good, laugh-out-loud, whodunnit and/or foodie reading material to transport me to a better place, at least for a little while. Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series fills the bill in almost all ways, including the foodie bit (see the most recent installment in the Three Pines blog). I usually listen to the books as I try to get in my 10,000 steps or bake something time-consuming. I can’t wait to read (or listen to) the latest installment. The kind, astute Gamache and all the lovable, eccentric characters who people Penny’s books will again convince me that all’s well in the world--or at least in the corner called Three Pines, where no murder goes unsolved and even misfits (especially misfits!) are welcome.
It's such a great series and from those that have read all of her books, they say each one is better than the last one. I agree about reads/listens to take our minds off all the depressing news. I don't walk as much as I used to, but when I did, I usually listened to podcasts. I still have a hard time listending to audiobooks as my mind seems to wander and I find that I'm missing the storyline/plot. If I miss something listening to a bookish podcast, no harm as it's easy to pay attention from that point on and still enjoy it.
Yes, I know what you mean about that. My mind sometimes wanders too and then I have to rewind to the point where I drifted off (sometimes to actually sleep!). Listening is truly a different kind of media experience, most pleasurable if the narrator is really good. It then becomes a radio drama--and I really do love that form of entertainment. It may tie into a primal memory of being read to as a kid (but I'm not Freud, so that's just a wild guess!). Reading is much more contemplative and demanding of attention, which probably exercises other cerebral muscles than listening. Both are valuable in different ways.
It sounds like we do have similar tastes. Occasionally, I'll go for a rom-com when I want an escapist read, but most times I gravitate to a thriller/suspense for the escape.
I've been bingeing on Japanese crime and nihilism this year, can heartily recommend Natsuo Kirino, Yoko Ogawa, and Shuichi Yoshida if you're into that kind of thing.
I have read the entire Louise Penny Series. The child sexual abuse storyline in her recent release is too disturbing. I ended up skimming most of the book and it’s among my least fav of the series (for many reasons). Readers who love thrillers will likely love it more than I did. It seems that she is moving away from mystery into the thriller genre. I haven’t enjoyed her last two, so off my auto buy list she goes. I’ll need to read more reviews before I commit to the next installment.
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with Penny's most recent book; it sounds like I'll likely struggle reading it when I get to it (for the same reasons you stated above), if ever. One of my goals for 2023 is to start the series from the beginning and try to read 1 a month. I think I'd enjoy reading them, but that "shiny new book" syndrome gets me every time. Happy New Year!
I haven't read any of the Three Pines novels yet but just watched the new mini-series. I don't know how the show stacks up compared to the books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to checking out the novels sometime.
I haven't watched the series yet, but I've heard that it is well done. Like most movies/series made from books, the show usually doesn't follow the books exactly and I've heard that this one does a good job, but it's not exact. I think when we readers watch shows inspired by the books, we need to enjoy them for what they are, not what we wish they could be. Happy New Year!
Yeah, I felt like the adaption kept the heart of the book, but it did differ in a couple of pretty significant ways. It's funny how some movies are more accurate with the details, but then miss something larger along the way. Happy New Year to you as well!
Gayla, thanks for this. I will be in conversation with Rachel Kapelke-Dale about our first novels on Saturday December 3 at 2 PM Eastern. We're hosted by the Alliance Française in Washington DC. It's a VIRTUAL conversation so everyone please join us. It's free, you just have to register. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ballerinas-the-three-muses-a-book-talk-tickets-460095145967
Thanks loads!!
I watched this yesterday and it was so good. Thanks for putting this on my radar.
I'm reading my first Louise Penny novel right now. So far, so good!
I've started again with Still Life, but I've also got several other books going that I'm trying to finish before year end. I need to narrow my focus on just a few books at at time, but there are so many that I want to read, I think I have to read them all at once.
With your pending retirement I am guessing we are going to notice EVEN MORE ENERGY toward reading soon enough. Fun to celebrate the new authors and books that became our friends this year. For me, William Kent Krueger has been a joy. Onward to Christmas!
I love Kent's books, I've read the first couple of the Cork O'Connor series and look forward to reading the rest of them. He is also releasing an audiobook next year that I'd like to listen to also. I hope my retirement gives me more time to read more books, plus some bookish travel.
Krueger is a long-time Minnesota transplant so his writing is especially popular here.
I've heard good things about "The Personal Assistant" and can't wait to read it. I've also heard some discussion about the Louise Penny series on a recent podcast and found out that there was a video series on Amazon Prime. I plan on watching that soon, I hope the Prime series is good but I will also check out some of the books.
And, I love the link to the Book gift boxes you provided. You just made my Christmas shopping easier for "me" and I hope I buy for my friends as well. LOL
Thanks Michele. I love Belle's books and there are several that write like her so I always have lots of suspense/thriller to read when I want one. l haven't watched the Prime series yet, but I've heard many good things about it from true, die hard Gamache fans.
Thanks as always for your book recommendations, Gayla! I’m finding that with so much frightening and depressing news shaking us up on a daily basis, all I really want is escapist, feel-good, laugh-out-loud, whodunnit and/or foodie reading material to transport me to a better place, at least for a little while. Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series fills the bill in almost all ways, including the foodie bit (see the most recent installment in the Three Pines blog). I usually listen to the books as I try to get in my 10,000 steps or bake something time-consuming. I can’t wait to read (or listen to) the latest installment. The kind, astute Gamache and all the lovable, eccentric characters who people Penny’s books will again convince me that all’s well in the world--or at least in the corner called Three Pines, where no murder goes unsolved and even misfits (especially misfits!) are welcome.
It's such a great series and from those that have read all of her books, they say each one is better than the last one. I agree about reads/listens to take our minds off all the depressing news. I don't walk as much as I used to, but when I did, I usually listened to podcasts. I still have a hard time listending to audiobooks as my mind seems to wander and I find that I'm missing the storyline/plot. If I miss something listening to a bookish podcast, no harm as it's easy to pay attention from that point on and still enjoy it.
Yes, I know what you mean about that. My mind sometimes wanders too and then I have to rewind to the point where I drifted off (sometimes to actually sleep!). Listening is truly a different kind of media experience, most pleasurable if the narrator is really good. It then becomes a radio drama--and I really do love that form of entertainment. It may tie into a primal memory of being read to as a kid (but I'm not Freud, so that's just a wild guess!). Reading is much more contemplative and demanding of attention, which probably exercises other cerebral muscles than listening. Both are valuable in different ways.
Agreed. I do enjoy listening to full cast audiobooks over single narrators. It takes it into a different realm.
I need to find more of those.
I've been thinking about doing a newsletter about this, maybe I need to move it off the back burner and work on it. Thanks for reminding me.
Several of these are on my to-read list! I think we have similar tastes in light relief.
It sounds like we do have similar tastes. Occasionally, I'll go for a rom-com when I want an escapist read, but most times I gravitate to a thriller/suspense for the escape.
I've been bingeing on Japanese crime and nihilism this year, can heartily recommend Natsuo Kirino, Yoko Ogawa, and Shuichi Yoshida if you're into that kind of thing.
I have never heard of those authors, so I'll have to check them out. Thanks.
I have read the entire Louise Penny Series. The child sexual abuse storyline in her recent release is too disturbing. I ended up skimming most of the book and it’s among my least fav of the series (for many reasons). Readers who love thrillers will likely love it more than I did. It seems that she is moving away from mystery into the thriller genre. I haven’t enjoyed her last two, so off my auto buy list she goes. I’ll need to read more reviews before I commit to the next installment.
Carol, I'm so sorry, I missed this comment. :(
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with Penny's most recent book; it sounds like I'll likely struggle reading it when I get to it (for the same reasons you stated above), if ever. One of my goals for 2023 is to start the series from the beginning and try to read 1 a month. I think I'd enjoy reading them, but that "shiny new book" syndrome gets me every time. Happy New Year!
Others have loved it, and you might too!
I haven't read any of the Three Pines novels yet but just watched the new mini-series. I don't know how the show stacks up compared to the books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to checking out the novels sometime.
I haven't watched the series yet, but I've heard that it is well done. Like most movies/series made from books, the show usually doesn't follow the books exactly and I've heard that this one does a good job, but it's not exact. I think when we readers watch shows inspired by the books, we need to enjoy them for what they are, not what we wish they could be. Happy New Year!
Yeah, I felt like the adaption kept the heart of the book, but it did differ in a couple of pretty significant ways. It's funny how some movies are more accurate with the details, but then miss something larger along the way. Happy New Year to you as well!