What I'm Reading - Feb 2013

[Cateline]

I've come back to reading Citizen Sherman:: A Life of William Tecumseh Sherman by Michael Fellman. It had seemed to me after about a hundred pages to be somewhat repeating itself.

Now, however, it has peaked my interest again. I am beginning to see more of Sherman's motivations for his actions, which seem to be entwined with his depression and suicidal thoughts.

[Kat]

Sara wrote: "Kat wrote: "I haven't read Patchett's book, but the comments make me think of recent reviews of Jamaica Kincaid's new novel (haven't read that one either), which is apparently highly autobiographic..."

You're right, fiction should be distinguished from memoir--though I'm not sure it makes much difference to the "betrayed" family member(s). I don't read memoir either, though for a different reason that I'm finding hard to elucidate. I seem to feel that fiction--meaning wrought from invention--is more true in some fundamental way. At any rate, I have rarely been able to bring myself to read memoir.

I wouldn't bet that all memoirists make up conversations, though. I have an auditory memory and have retained scads of conversations from my childhood years (and the various decades since). Are they absolutely accurate? Of course not, memory doesn't work that way. But they're certainly more remembered than invented. However, these recollected conversations do tend to be short and selective, sometimes having more to do with the first time I heard a new word than whatever emotional angst I was undergoing. So I doubt they would make much in the way of memoir fodder.

Am in the final third of BRING UP THE BODIES and am wondering how much Mantel has made up vs. recovered--another interesting question.

[Ann D]

Good points, Kat and Sara.

I often have problems with historical fiction, as opposed to straight history, because I don't like writers messing with facts (to the limited extent that we know them, of course). I make an exception for Hillary Mantel. She meticulously researches her books to make sure her story happens within the confines of what is actually known.

But her interpretations of the motivation of historical characters like Cromwell and Moore are quite her own. They don't always agree with those of historians. I accept them in the context of the world she has created because she is such a darn good writer.

[Gina]

I've read two books. One is Caleb's Crossing which I enjoyed somewhat. I didn't like Bethia's acceptance of the rules of her Puritan life. I was hoping she would rebel against it. It should have been called Bethia's Crossing.

The other book was Lapham Rising. It was enjoyable but I had to get use to this narrator having conversations with his born-again Christian Westie.

[Marjorie]

I'm reading a really fascinating nonfiction book, THE OUTPOST by Jake Tapper. It was recommended by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and by an Amazon reader of General McChrystal's memoir (My Share of the Task by General Stanley McChrystal).

It shows dramatically the consequences of poor strategy and decision making by the higher command, including McChrystal. A group of soldiers is sent to a very remote part of Afghanistan to set up an outpost; no one could figure out exactly why. I am finding the story hard to put down as it tells of these men and what they went through. You get to know them, their family background, their thoughts. I was amazed to read how intelligent and well educated these men were.

The book gives such interesting information about the Afghanistan people they meet there. One large group surprisingly has red hair and blue eyes, and is thought to have been originally from people left there after Alexander the Great's battles there. When told by the soldiers that they were there on behalf of the Afghanistan Government, they replied, "Oh? Who are they?

Marge

[Ann D]

That sounds really interesting, Marge.

[Sue]

Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading a really fascinating nonfiction book, THE OUTPOST by Jake Tapper. It was recommended by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and by an Amazon reader of General McChrystal's memoir (My Share of the T..."

I just read a summary that sounded interesting. Now your mention makes me think I probably should check it out. Thanks for mentioning it. I should start watching Rachel Maddow again.

[Kat]

Marjorie wrote: "I'm reading a really fascinating nonfiction book, THE OUTPOST by Jake Tapper. It was recommended by Rachel Maddow of MSNBC and by an Amazon reader of General McChrystal's memoir (My Share of the T..."

Thanks for this mention. I don't read much nf but I recommended this to my mom, who isn't on GR and is always looking for nf titles on politics, social justice, etc.

[Book Concierge]

Salvage the Bones – Jesmyn Ward – 3***

As the novel opens, a hurricane named Katrina is forming in the Gulf of Mexico and will threaten the Mississippi coastal town of Bois Sauvage, home to the Batiste family – Claude (a widower) and his four children: Randall, Skeetah, Esch and Junior. There is much here that should make a gripping work of literary fiction. I generally love books like this, but this one left me feeling decidedly “meh.”

Link to my full review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Geoff]

Read a really good J.F. Powers story last night, "The Valiant Woman," about a priest who is controlled and overmastered by his housekeeper. It's a lot more subtle than that premise makes it sound. Good stuff.

[Sue]

Geoff wrote: "Read a really good J.F. Powers story last night, "The Valiant Woman," about a priest who is controlled and overmastered by his housekeeper. It's a lot more subtle than that premise makes it sound...."

Sounds interesting Geoff. I've never read Powers. What collection are you reading?

[John]

Carol wrote: "I finished Brideshead Revisited , it was a bit heavy on religion , but it was passable. I was curious about Bless Me, Ultima , so I started it. All I can say right now is it is mystical and magica..."

I read BR a few years ago, recalling that I liked it, but not many details. I'm planning on re-reading it (listen to Jeremy Irons read it) for the discussion.

[Ruth]

You should watch the British TV series with Jeremy Irons. Excellent.

[John]

March anyone?

[Cateline]

I'm about halfway through Dangerous Liaisons, in addition to Citizen Sherman:: A Life of William Tecumseh Sherman.

Interesting combination. :)

[Ruth]

Closing this thread, now. Dottie's opened up a March room for us.