Greg’s Comments (group member since Jul 02, 2014)

Greg’s comments from the All About Books group.

This is my current plan

Finish up from last month:
✔ The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay ★★★ (3.0)
✔ The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa ★★★★★ (4.5)

Definitely:
Sula by Toni Morrison
✔ A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvoir ★★★★★ (5.0)
in progress 48% Men Without Women by Haruki Murakami
✔ The Test by Sylvain Neuvel ★★★★ (4.0)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Probably:
in progress 32% Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher

Possibly:
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Unplanned:
in progress 35% Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

What are you planning to read in December? Tell us about your plans!

Jackie wrote: "I nominate Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea"

I will second Good Night, Irene

Finished The Night Before Christmas (Nikolai Gogol) (2.5★) and Imperium: A Fiction of the South Seas (Christian Kracht) (3.5★) and my reaction to both was mixed.

The Gogol was full of the sort of slapstick humor that I don't usually appreciate, and the social commentary wasn't nuanced enough to be interesting. And the Kracht had some beautiful passages and some extremely evocative writing, but the themes were all over the place and the main analogy felt a bit strained and unfair to me.

Now, I'm reading The Sound of Waves (Yukio Mishima), An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving & Other Stories: Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 6 (Louisa May Alcott). And after I finish those, I'm planning to start The Memory Police (Yōko Ogawa)

Yes, hope everyone in the United States or regions that are celebrating Thanksgiving has a wonderful one! What is everyone's plans? Ron and I are having his brother and parents over, and we're going to do the traditional thing (with some cooking shortcuts) :)

LauraT wrote: "Not really - the working problems I mean. But, as usual in life, you sort of get used to them, and learn to cope...

For the book, I totally agree with Nidhi!"

Sorry to hear about that Laura. :(

As far as the book, it's good to hear your and Nidhi's recommendations! I will try to fit it in!

Wow, I was completely blown away by Veniss Underground (Jeff VanderMeer), such a gorgeous book! Though, the description on the back cover that describes it as having an "almost Boschian intensity" is exactly right. Plenty disturbing and gory but well worth it, for me anyway.

I also ended up very much enjoying The Razor's Edge, though you couldn't find a more different book than Veniss Underground. Maybe that made them a good pairing. When I needed a break from Veniss, I stepped into Razor for a bit more restraint.

I rated both of those 5★.

Next up, I'll be starting The Night Before Christmas (Nikolai Gogol), The Sound of Waves (Yukio Mishima), and Imperium: A Fiction of the South Seas (Christian Kracht).

LauraT wrote: "It is long indeed - and these days I've not so much time to read; but I hope to manage before the end of the month"

Hope you enjoy it Laura, and I hope your work problems are getting better!

Nidhi wrote: "Greg, Covenant of Water is long but language and style is lucid, very easy to grasp, stories are good. I hope you find time to read it in near future."

Thanks Nidhi! :)

LauraT wrote: "Reading an etreamly interesting book: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
Has anyone of you read it? What do you think?"

I noticed it was the group read, and it looks interesting! Glad to hear that you are liking it!! The only thing is that it is so long in length - I'm not sure I'll manage to fit it this month.

Finished Minor Detail by Adania Shibli, The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill, and The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

I'm still polishing off The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett . . . and now, I have also started Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer.

I'm enjoying all three of the books I'm currently reading in different ways: Faeries is very light and entertaining, Veniss is weird and intriguing, and Razor's has a classic feel. Some gender attitudes in Razor's feel extremely dated to me (by modern standards), but I'm greatly enjoying it nevertheless.

This is my current plan

Finish up from last month:
✔ The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham ★★★★★ (4.5)
✔ Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett ★★★★ (3.5)

Definitely:
✔ The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima ★★★★ (4.0)
✔ The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol ★★★ (2.5)
✔ Minor Detail by Adania Shibli ★★★★ (4.0)
✔ The Crane Husband by Kelly Barnhill ★★★★★ (4.5)

Probably:
✔ Imperium: A Fiction of the South Seas by Christian Kracht ★★★★ (3.5)
✔ The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle ★★★★ (4.0)
in progress 30% The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

Possibly:
✔ Veniss Underground by Jeff VanderMeer ★★★★★ (4.5)
skipped When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Unplanned:
in progress 44% The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

What are you reading in November? Anything that really struck you so far?

Anyone else have nominations or seconds? Just looked and most of my friends rate that book highly Laura!

I'll nominate Revenge by Yōko Ogawa

I'll second The Starless Sea

I'm not sure if I'll find time to read such a long one, but I'll try. It does look intriguing!

spoko wrote: "Agreed. This is the first Maugham book I’ve read, and it certainly makes me want to read more. I’ll probably give Of Human Bondage a go some time in the new year."

I haven't read that one yet, though I've read a few others. Of those I've read, I liked the The Painted Veil best prior to this one.

I'll certainly read Of Human Bondage someday! Several of my friends have pointed to that as their favorite; I think you're in good company there Nidhi!

Nidhi wrote: "The book is complex where human nature, emotions and behaviour is concerned, that is why there is disscusion. Author has given much to ponder about."

For sure Nidhi!

Finished the second part. There's some humor in here that I didn't remember in the ways that people who are fundamentally different get frustrated or confused or misunderstand each other. Still finding it very engaging.