What is the last book you read, and your rating?

[A24]

I finished the audio version of The Casual Vacancy. I really had no idea what to expect with this book except that it was written by J.K. Rowling and nothing like Harry Potter. In the beginning I had a hard time really getting into the many different but interconnected lives of the people of the community. There were so many characters. But, by the 2nd half I found myself really wanting to know what would happen to each of them and the consequences of their actions. The subject matter was disturbing at times and the language horrible but believable for the characters. I found myself glad to have read it by the end. 4/5

[gali]

The Golem and the Jinni / Helen walker. The idea was original and interesting , the execution was much less. 3/5 stars.

[Lou_ise]

Bleed Through by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Rusch is better known for her SF novels but this one deals in real time about a school shooting. Set in a small town in Minnesota, the novel focuses on how the journalism teacher, a former top reporter for major news outlets and papers, helps her students work through the tragedy by putting together a program for all students, their families, friends, and teachers that does not focus on the shooter or the shooting but on the lives of those who died. The book is well worth your time because it helps readers see beneath the sensationalizing that too often happens with the media.

[Fran]

Last night I finished reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Following on from Oryx & Crake this book covers much the same ground but told from the viewpoint of others we learn the backstory of Oryx and Crake as it were. Crake, a kind of Frankenstein, has bioengineered a new breed of humans to be called the Crakers & has also engineered a plague which has wiped out most of the existing human race. This plague breaks out simultaniously across the globe and thus defeats any efforts at creating a vaccine. Starting in year 25 The Year of the Flood follows the stories of the few humans remaining as they try to survive and regroup while fighting off the attacks of genetically modified vicious animals, pigs with human brain tissue and the liobam - a genetic splice of lion and lamb - for example.
In structure the book moves back and forth between the few surviving humans, & the stories of how they, in particular, happen to avoid the plague is fascinating, but you do need to remain alert while reading or you can easily get lost between all the characters and their interconnected relationships.
Atwood is adamant that she does not write science fiction and there is so much depth and so much to speculate on in the characters she creates and the situations she imagines that are well beyond standard science fiction IMO. While reading this book I happened upon a radio discussion of current developments in gene modification and the stage science is at in possibly creating engineered humans. I had to wonder is The Year of the Flood an imagined future or are we sleepwalking into this awful tragedy.
I really can't wait to read the final book in this Dystopian trilogy, MaddAddam, I really, really want to know what happens with these "new" breed of humans and how they will interact with the remaining dregs of "old" human species.
As with Oryx & Crake, The Year of the Flood is a quiet awesome read & I highly recommend it. Of course I also love that Atwood always creates such strong female characters, fighters and survivors. 5/5*

[jechamer]

The last book I read is The Sworn by Gail Z Martin. Its the start of a second series by Ms. Martin and continues where her first series, a trilogy, leaves off. The setting is a fictional land where the people have very little technology but alot of magic. The characters are young men and women, generally princes and princesses, who find themselves having to take on the leadership of their people unexpectedly. Along with the challenges of having to rule their countries, they are facing a war from across the ocean that wants to take over all their kingdoms. The war is waking up ancient powers that are only known through legends and they are unsure whose side those ancients will choose. 4/5

[riyanj]

The last book I read was Murder Has Consequences by Giacomo Giammatteo. I picked up the first book in that series last year and really enjoyed it. It's a mob crime kind of series. I'd give it a four, mostly because I enjoyed watching the characters from book one change and grow in book two. It was a good continuation to the original story.

[journeyseeker]

I just finished reading "Passion from the Vine" and I'm still fanning myself. This was one hot erotic romance and a great story about second chances. The main character was witty and charming and her mother was funnier than hell. The man, Valentino was intelligent, sexy and just plain yummy. I'm a fan of Sylvia Day's work, but I just found my new favorite, Shannon Casey.

[dudeandduchess]

The last book I read was A Touch of Summer by Evie Hunter (and now I'm halfway through Shuttered Affections by Rene Folsom). A Touch of Summer was really good. It had the right a mount of character development, and had me riding this roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I wanted to throttle the main protagonists, other times I just wanted to hug both of them. It's really good and I'm going to read the other two books in the series as soon as I'm done with Shuttered Affections.

[Fran]

Arimathea by Frank McGuinness
This book is mostly set in a rural town in remote Donegal in the late 1940s. A young Italian painter arrives in the town having been commissioned to paint a set of Stations of the Cross for the local Catholic church. Through the eyes of seven characters we learn the impact the arrival of this exotic creature has and the emotional whirlwind he innocently sets in train. Arimathea is an immensly enjoyable read, beautifully written and constructed and with the authentic voice of Donegal. It has been described as "poetic and strange, elemental and truly original" and I agree completly.
I give it 4.5/5*

[gali]

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - 5/5

A great book about a teenager who relive the day of her death 7 times. It is one of the most beautiful and touching stories I've read and I highly recommend it.

[Ant]

The Two Pound Tram by William Newton, a great little story, too short if anything. It tells the story of two brothers in rural pre war England who leave a dysfunctional home at an early age to follow their dream. I think the ending was excellent which makes a welcome change to some of the books I have been reading lately and so I would give it 4/5 and well worth a read.

[primrose777]

Stone Cold by David Baldacci. Rated 3.5/5. Loved it, such an entertaining read. I wouldn't work in the CIA for all the tea in China, Just saying....

[DATo]

The Murder Of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie.

A good "whodunit" but unfortunately I highly suspected who the murderer was about 2/3 into the book. I particularly liked the way Christie could weave humor into the story (i.e. Caroline's repartee with her brother). Despite the fact that I knew who committed the crime I have to admit that Christie's ending was an ingenious stroke of creativity. I've never known a murder mystery to end this way. It was an exceedingly well executed ending . 4 of 5

[primrose777]

Last night I finished reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
Following on from Oryx & Crake this book covers much the same ground but told from the viewpoint of others we learn the backstory of Oryx and Crake as it were. Crake, a kind of Frankenstein, has bioengineered a new breed of humans to be called the Crakers & has also engineered a plague which has wiped out most of the existing human race. This plague breaks out simultaniously across the globe and thus defeats any efforts at creating a vaccine. Starting in year 25 The Year of the Flood follows the stories of the few humans remaining as they try to survive and regroup while fighting off the attacks of genetically modified vicious animals, pigs with human brain tissue and the liobam - a genetic splice of lion and lamb - for example.
In structure the book moves back and forth between the few surviving humans, & the stories of how they, in particular, happen to avoid the plague is fascinating, but you do need to remain alert while reading or you can easily get lost between all the characters and their interconnected relationships.
Atwood is adamant that she does not write science fiction and there is so much depth and so much to speculate on in the characters she creates and the situations she imagines that are well beyond standard science fiction IMO. While reading this book I happened upon a radio discussion of current developments in gene modification and the stage science is at in possibly creating engineered humans. I had to wonder is The Year of the Flood an imagined future or are we sleepwalking into this awful tragedy.
I really can't wait to read the final book in this Dystopian trilogy, MaddAddam, I really, really want to know what happens with these "new" breed of humans and how they will interact with the remaining dregs of "old" human species.
As with Oryx & Crake, The Year of the Flood is a quiet awesome read & I highly recommend it. Of course I also love that Atwood always creates such strong female characters, fighters and survivors. 5/5*

I recently discovered Margaret Attwood and have read The Blind Assassin which I enjoyed very much. This series seems so far removed, she must be quite a diverse writer.

[Craigable]

For me it's Thirty Stories (1946) by Kay Boyle.

She knows her craft and is a talented writer, though her style isn't quite my cup of tea. Disregarding my personal taste, though, I'd give her 4/5 stars.