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Charlie Ravioli

Charlie Ravioli

has 17 followers and is following 10 people

I read, therefore I am.
  • Montclair, NJ, USA
  • member since June 20, 2009

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Public Notes

  • Lilypoet

    Lilypoet says

    Hi there:
    Yes! I read, "Lonesome Dove" some time ago and really enjoyed it. My father, who is 83, is an avid reader. He suggested McMurtry to me and I was hooked--Yes, it was a great read. Thank you.
    I just finished Audrey Niffenegger's, "Her Fearful Symmetry." It was quite good but I would have liked it more if she developed her characters to a bit deeper level. It is a very visual book--lots of wonderful imagery, not surprising since Niffenegger is actually a visual artist. She writes as if she is painting, blending colors and layers. Give it a go. You just might like it!
    Have a great day, Charlie!
    Lisa

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Lilypoet

    Lilypoet says

    Thanks so much for the book suggestions. They all "break the mold" for me. Again, that's why I am enjoying this site so. If you'd like, I'll pass a few book suggestions on to you and please keep me posted on what you are reading.
    Thanks again!
    Lisa

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Lilypoet

    Lilypoet says

    Ah! "I read, therefore I am." I like that--very clever! I was perusing your book selections. There are a great many I have yet to read and authors that I am not acquainted with. I'm enjoying this site for that very reason--to discover and explore new and classic authors. Thanks for sharing!
    Lisa

    posted 3 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Nicole R

    Nicole R says

    Hi, I was wondering what is your opinion of The Detachment by Barry Eisler. I loved his John Rain series, but I wasn't as impressed with Fault Line and Inside Out with Ben Treven. I liked that Inside Out was based on something that actually happened, but I just didn't like the characters as much.

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Mark K

    Mark K says

    A belated welcome to the Sesquicentennial Read of Civil War History group!

    As you're probably noticed, we're a small group with a pretty active core. We have discussions over group reads every two months (our upcoming one for November, as you may have seen, will be over William C. Davis's Battle at Bull Run), with a discussion thread provided for people to post their observations and questions over the chapters they have read. Members post other information about the American Civil War as well, such as upcoming exhibits and television programs that might be of interest to the group.

    Feel free to introduce yourself in the Introductions thread. We look forward to your participation!

    -- Mark

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Sagecoveredhills

    Sagecoveredhills says

    Please review Clemente--it sounds as if it could be a good book...

    posted 4 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Krishna Bhatt

    Krishna Bhatt says

    Succinct profile.

    posted 8 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Don K.

    Don K. says

    Welcome to Good Reads, Charlie. We are glad you joined and want to encourage you to participate.

    The group profile should give you some idea of how Good Reads works and the shelf provides a list of books we have read. This month we are reading and discussing Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter by Mario Vargas Llosa; and next month we will be reading and discussing Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

    Please feel free to post to any of the older book discussions as well as the new. And, don't forget to vote for the August read when we post the list.

    Don K.

    posted 8 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Daniel G

    Daniel G says

    My brother sent me this recommendation: http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/04/25/135439051/in-bottom-of-the-33rd-a-look-at-baseballs-longest-game Looks pretty good!

    posted 10 months ago. ( send a note )
  • Jerseygirl / Mrs. Constance (Oodles) Oxford-Whapdoodle, B.C., D.C.

    Jerseygirl / Mrs. Constance (Oodles) Oxford-Whapdoodle, B.C., D.C. says

    The History Non-Fiction Group is voting for the Oct-Dec Quarterly Group read. We've had several interesting books nominated. Please take a look and vote if you'd like to join in.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Dave Gaston

    Dave Gaston says

    I saw that A Reliable Wife was on your to read pile. My review, if it helps:

    Goolrick has a problem; he only got it half right. To his credit, he has constructed a classic, twisting and dark plot; a biblical love triangle rich with symbolism. In addition, his descriptions are impressive and poetic. His downfall is pure brevity. His character's numerous reflections are so self-entangled that it might prove impossible to edit. He choked his own good book to death with verbose soap boxing. Not to needle, but his character development (outside of the fateful three), was parchment-thin. Finally, he also seemed a little too taken with passionate sex scenes (... likely just the prude in me). OK, I'll stop now. I hate to kill a good book, but there are plenty of reasons to challenge Goolrick's Reliable Wife.

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Chuck H

    Chuck H says

    How are you enjoying 'The Passage' so far? It got pretty high marks in Sunday's L.A. Times book review. I have it on request at the library (#10 on the list, yikes!).

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Daniel G

    Daniel G says

    Hey Charlie, Got a kindle and reading the new Willie Mays book. Really enjoying it, but I also can see how you said you still like getting "physical" books as well. The books you are currently reading look pretty interesting!

    posted 1 year ago. ( send a note )
  • Dave Gaston

    Dave Gaston says

    Great list Charlie. The only book on your list that proved a disappointment was "Last Night on Twisted River." I have loved John Irving's quirky novels. The slow build, his attention to detail. This one just seemed a little stale. The dialog seemed too tinny. Maybe I've read too much non-fiction for my own good. I like your idea of making a list and sticking to it. I'm not sure if I could pull it off. I try to average a book a week, but I swing wild on exactly which book. A dense one needs to be followed by a light one. If I'm traveling I'll choose two light ones. My goal is not to read more books ... but to read better books. So I'm focused on vetting each new book, reading reviews, checking in with friends like you, etc. Lets keep in touch as we dive into our stacks. The next four on my list are: The Big Burn (which I'm just now finishing; very good, not great, but very good), Nickeled & Dimed, Nixonland, The Places In Between.

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Dave Gaston

    Dave Gaston says

    Happy New Year Charlie, How do you like The Great Bridge? All my best for a better 2010. Dave

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Regina L

    Regina L says

    THank you for the recommendation. I've added it to my list. It is good to find someone else who has read Follett's older work. I don't run into that much.

    I see you have Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton on your TBR. It is an excellent read. It took me awhile to read it. There is just so much information, but it was fascinating and I learned a lot. I also see you plan to read Shadow of the Wind. I started it this week. It is a fun read. I expect to give it a good rating (unless it falls apart at the end). Thanks for dropping by!

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Foghorn Leghorn

    Foghorn Leghorn says

    I will look into those books. I've read Eye of the Needle, it is very good. Two of Follett's books I like also are The Key to Rebecca and Triple. Have you ever read 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' by William Shirer? I really liked that one.

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Foghorn Leghorn

    Foghorn Leghorn says

    Hey, Charlie
    I just finished 'In Harms Way'. I really liked it. If you have any good WWII books, let me know.

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Chuck H

    Chuck H says

    3 Nights in August - EXCELLENT baseball story, one of the best I've read. Enjoy!

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )
  • Dave Gaston

    Dave Gaston says

    Thanks Charlie, means of Ascent I loved, but never tagged (it was in a book set called "Master of the Senate"). Great stuff, we'll never know a president like we did with LBJ. "The Great Bridge" is one of my all time favorites. Right after reading it I started down three paths; I read everything from David McCollough, I started reading bridge books and books about historical NY. How about that for starting some fires! Have a good week. Dave

    posted 2 years ago. ( send a note )