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Constant Reader
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September: What Are You Reading?
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Sherry, Doyenne
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Sep 01, 2010 11:48am
A new note for a new month.
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Just about to finish Messages. It is an interesting compilation of people's interactions with the souls of the people who perished on 9/11.
I'm reading two non-fiction books at the moment... Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I'm enjoying them both very much!
The second book is great. Hope you enjoy it. I haven't read the first one though.I am starting Pillars of the Earth tonight.
Carol, I'll be very interested to hear what you think about that one. I had a very strong reaction . . . .
um, I found it incredibly racist. India (and Indians) serve as an exotic backdrop for the Brits. Very offensive.Not that I'm opinionated or nuthin', mind.
You know my husband was born in India, and the first few pages floored me. I still will read it. If only to see how narrow minded people are.
Sara wrote: "um, I found it incredibly racist. India (and Indians) serve as an exotic backdrop for the Brits. Very offensive."There was a lot of that about, Sara. :-)
I'm currently reading The Children's Book for the discussion. Hope I finish it in time, but I'm only about 60 pages in. I'm enjoying it.Also reading Kathy Reich's newest, Spider Bones. Not her strongest in my opinion. Too much detail and agency descriptions. Short on the characters. This is another of those instant notification from the library and is a very quick read.
I'm afraid Anna Karenina is temporarily on the back burner.
I just startedThe Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford because it was listed in Jane Smiley'sThirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel have almost finished Judge Sewall's Apology: The Salem Witch Trials and the Forming of an American Conscience
THE GOOD SOLDIER was one of those books always used as an example in my creative writing classes years ago, but somehow I only got around to reading it last year! I liked it a lot.
I've nominated it several times for Classics, but it was never voted in. I have it on my Kindle where I downloaded it for free from Feedbooks.com . I still haven't read it.
The Good Soldier, along with Under the Volcano, is reputed to be one of those books most read by writers but least read by readers.Great novel, one that doesn't outwardly seem challenging but really demands the reader's attention.
Am currently half way through Siddharthaby Hermann Hesse An interesting read till now..eagerly waiting for the end, quite a short book and an easy read too...some grammatical errors did seep in, due to translation from German i guess
I'm reading The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. So far I really like it; although I do have an issue with the narrator it's not spoiling my enjoyment of the book.
I'm listening to The Children's Book for our discussion thread. I have just purchased a whole load of Kate Atkinson, CJ Sansom after having loved Dissolution (a ace detective novel in my opinion) along with Brooklyn and Secret Sun in the ebook and audio book sales. Should keep me busy :)
I've just finished Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul, which I didn't much like. Last week I started Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, far too late for the discussion here. And last night I picked up Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the Castle, which already makes Shafak's writing look like rubbish.
Katie, when you're finished with The Little Stranger, make sure you read our discussion of it. It wasn't that long ago, so I'm sure if you wanted to add to it, you will get some responses. http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...
Hazel wrote: "I've just finished Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul, which I didn't much like. Last week I started Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, far too late for the discussion here..."Wow you definately read fast! I have hardly heard any compliments on Shafak's book.
Aditya wrote: "Am currently half way through Siddharthaby Hermann Hesse An interesting read till now..eagerly waiting for the end, quite a short book and an easy read too...some gram..."I really like Siddhartha. It's one of those short books that I open once in a while and read a few pages over again.
Bahareh wrote: "Hazel wrote: "I've just finished Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul, which I didn't much like. Last week I started Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, far too late for the d..."I was very disappointed, Bahareh, and worried that I was being overly critical. When a book is very good, I often find myself wanting to savour it, rereading paragraphs or chapters. The experience with Shafak was very different. :-(
Is The Grand Design the new book where he claims we've figured out enough about the universe and don't need to posit the existence of a god anymore?
That's right hazel. I don't really like arguments about prooving or denying god. But I'm interested in Hawking's logic most of the time.
I'm reading (well, listening to Neverwhere) both of these, too. Welcome to Constant Reader, Silencio.
Bahareh wrote: "That's right hazel. I don't really like arguments about prooving or denying god. But I'm interested in Hawking's logic most of the time."My own feeling is that such arguments are unlikely to influence those who hold strong beliefs either way. :-) I'd be glad to hear what you think of the book.
Silencio and Sherry, not long ago I listened to Gaimen reading Coraline and thought it was lovely story and very well read. I'd have adored it as a child and feel really quite pleased to have "discovered" him as an adult, he spins a good tale with memorable characters, just dark enough to give eary anticipation without too much fright. Neverwhere is certainly on my to be read list.
Today will officially mark the end of my reading and writing lives, collectively. DirecTV gets installed later on. Having not had any form of cable since 2003, I figure I'm doomed. :)
Sara: I think you will find with the new-to-you DVR and on demand features you will be able to better manage your tv viewing time.I just finished The Hundred-Foot Journey: A Novel which I loved. I think the CRs who love food and travel will really enjoy it. I may even nominate it as it would be fun to discuss, although the discussion would likely become a "so what is your favorite meal" kind of digression.
Sherry:You should definitely try to read it before Key West - I am sure foodie readers and writers will be discussing it.
It was reviewed in the NYT a few weeks ago and so I got on the list at the library - then I went to a dinner party at a friend's house and she had just finished it so she loaned it to me - serendipitous.Especially after your trip this summer, I think you will love it.
Silencio wrote: "I've just started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman; and also still reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath."Neverwhere is one of my favorites, the Bell Jar not so much.
I'm working on Field Guide: Dog First Aid Emergency Care for the Hunting, Working, and Outdoor Dog, which, as you might expect, is a field guide to dog first aid.And now I'm going to go downstairs to get the burrs, thorns, and mud out of the dog.
Carol: I think you would really enjoy it - especially with your husband being born in India.It is also refreshing to read a short novel these days.
I just put it on hold at the library. I am number one on the list. I also put on hold Homer and Langley: A Novel. I have been wanting to read it for a while.
Keep us posted on Homer and Langley: A Novel - I have never read E.L. Doctorow but that one sort of appeals to me.I have now started The Nobodies Album - so far so good. People who I generally agree with on books loved it and people have been recommending the author to me for a while - so I am killing multiple birds with this read. Only downside is it is due back at the library in 4 days and can't be renewed.
Kat wrote: "THE GOOD SOLDIER was one of those books always used as an example in my creative writing classes years ago, but somehow I only got around to reading it last year! I liked it a lot."I got to page 112 when one of the main characters commits suicide, read 11 more pages and the last page, saw no reason to read the rest. can't figure out why it is supposed to be a perfect novel.
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Constant Reader
Books mentioned in this topic
Messages: Signs, Visits, and Premonitions from Loved Ones Lost on 9/11 (other topics)Dead and Alive (other topics)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (other topics)
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (other topics)
East of the Sun (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Hermann Hesse (other topics)E.L. Doctorow (other topics)
Alistair MacLeod (other topics)
Margaret Atwood (other topics)
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