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Sabina E

Sabina E

has 130 followers and is following 82 people

Books may well be the only true magic.
- Alice Hoffman
  • WA, Australia
  • member since May 14, 2009

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Sabina E’s last login was 12 hours ago. show recent activity »

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Public Notes

  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Thanks, Sabina. It definitely sounds like a winner. I'll add it to my wish list and make a point of getting it soon. As for the Duby book, it is supposed to be a work of non-fiction, but it read as if Duby was trying to write a novel -- a really bad novel. It was hard to follow and focused very little on Marshall...at least the parts I read. Think Lander's Wars of the Roses...that's how bad it was to me.

    posted 6 days ago. ( send a note )
  • Jerseygirl / Mrs. Constance (Oodles) Oxford-Whapdoodle, B.C., D.C.
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    I see you're reading a bio of William Marshall. I tried to read the bio written by Georges Duby, but it was awful and I couldn't finish (even though it was less than 200 pages!). Let me know how you like it, as I'd love to read some non-fiction on Marshall.

    We'd briefly discussed a joint read of Mistry's A Fine Balance. Does that still interest you? I can't get to it this month, but could probably do so mid to end March. What do you think?

    posted 11 days ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    How are you coming along with The Kingmaking? I finished yesterday. I initially gave it three stars, but having thought about it a little more I upped it to 3.5 since I liked the ending and I'm curious now for the second book. I still don't like Arthur though!

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Tracey

    Tracey says

    Wow 42 degrees! Don't know if I could cope with that now!

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Tracey

    Tracey says

    Lovely new avatar! Very bright and cheery. Probably a bit late but Happy Australia Day!

    Tracey

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Yay! That news just made my day. I really hope you love it as much as I do.

    I have the other two books in the trilogy, so I'm going to read them this year any way. Hopefully they'll be better than the first!

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Phew! Everyone else seems to think it's very good so I thought I was going to be the lone voice of dissent. I'm at about a three star rating at the moment, but hopefully the final 200 pages can turn things around...although I think one of my issues is that the book is just too long and I'm at the point now that I just want the book to end already!

    You are having a heat wave and we've been experiencing a cold snap, although this week has been a little better than last. I don't know what's worse - extreme heat or extreme cold!

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Hi Sabina! You have a lovely new avatar. How are you doing with The Kingmaking? I'm having trouble getting through it :-(. I really don't like Arthur!

    posted 2 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Isabelle S

    Isabelle S says

    Yay! You've joined the fray at Play Book Tag!

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • Bev

    Bev says

    Sabina,

    I finished Buddha In The Attic
    It's a small book and different from a style of writing that I would usually lean to.
    I opened it hoping for something similar to the picture brides fromHonolulu

    Instead, a Japanese narrator speaks in a "collective voice" and traces the picture
    brides voyage and arrival, all the in betweens to the eventual prospect of internment.
    There is no individual to follow but many instead.
    Then an American narrator speaks collectively tracing the effects of the Japanese
    no longer present in the city.

    Probably not my favorite but interesting, none the less

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    You're reading The Restorer? I hope you love it and that I didn't hype it up too much :-)

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    I've heard of the Dunnett book, but I've tried to read her stuff before and absolutely hate her writing style. There are a few people on Shelfari and elsewhere who rave about her stuff, but I find her books a chore to read because of how they are written. If you do pick it up let me know how you get along with it -- maybe that one is written in a more comprehensible manner.

    posted 3 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    First person narrative is the hardest to get right, which is one of the reasons I don't like it -- so few authors can pull it off. Here's hoping Higginbotham gets it right :-) I don't dislike all first-person narratives, I just prefer third person. After finishing the novel Macbeth is still very much an enigma, and I'd been hoping we'd get to know him better. This could have happened with third person. Oh well.

    posted 4 weeks ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    I've been using the glossary as I go, but find there are lots of terms that haven't been included :-(

    I'll likely finish the book this afternoon. Right now my rating is 3.5 stars. I am enjoying the story overall, but the way it's being told is a bit off putting. As I mentioned earlier, I'm not a fan of first person narrative. I also find the dialogue and narrative in general too formal/stiff -- it doesn't feel natural to me. Not that there is anything wrong with the writing, it's just not written in a way that makes me connect with the characters or story in the way necessary for me to love a book. Cold would be the best way I can describe it. Still, the bits of history are very interesting, and I like the references to Scottish customs and superstitions, too -- having lots of Scots in my own ancestry, I do know of some strange superstitions that have been passed down through the generations!

    I see you've added the new Susan Higginbotham book to your wish list. It will be interesting to read her take on Lady Jane Grey. I'm looking forward to it.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    How are you coming along with Lady Macbeth? I'm at the 120 page mark and am enjoying it -- despite not being able to pronounce or properly read all the Gaelic terms! Funny, but I don't like Gruath at all and I'm not a fan of first-person narrative, but I'm still getting along with the book :-)

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    I gave it 4 stars, even with my issues with plot and character development. The writing blew me away, so I had to rate it well for that reason alone.

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    I'm am so curious to hear your thoughts on The Night Circus, Sabina. Will you be one of the many who absolutely adore it, or will you be like me -- one who liked the writing but found the plot and characters lacking?

    posted 1 month ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Thanks, Sabina. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you all the best for 2012, too! Here's to lots of great reading in the year ahead.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )
  • AvidReader

    AvidReader says

    Thanks, Sabina. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, and I wish you all the best for 2012, too! Here's to lots of great reading in the year ahead.

    posted 2 months ago. ( send a note )